The Regional Director of the United Nations Population Fund for the West and Central Africa Regional Office (UNFP WCARO), Mabingue NGOM paid a working visit to Benin from 5 to 9 May 2019. During his stay, the Regional Director launched the State of the World Population 2019 report, addressed a regional gathering of the French Muskoka Fund project in addition to holding audiences with several Government ministers of Benin including the Minister of State in charge of Planning and Development and the Minister in charge Foreign Affairs

Regional launch of State of the World Population Report - SWOP

This year's edition of UNFPA’s flagship publication, SWOP, is entitled " UNFINISHED BUSINESS: the pursuits of rights and choices FOR ALL." The regional launch for West and Central Africa took place in Benin, by the Regional Director under the auspices of the Minister of State for Planning and Development and the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs. Other government ministers Health, Higher Education and Social Affairs. UNFPA’s technical and financial partners the diplomatic corps, UN agencies as well as the media attended the ceremony.

To complete the unfinished business, Benin’s Minister of State in charge of Planning and Development, Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, remarked that "The government has put the demographic dividend agenda at the heart of the reforms."

The theme of this edition is part of this year's broad movement, which coincides with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, commemorating the promotion of human rights and choices in health and empowerment of women and girls. On the occasion of this launch, Director NGOM reaffirmed UNFPA's commitment to continue and strengthen the partnership to accelerate the results of the 1994 pledges, especially for girls and women.

Investing in girls to harness the Demographic Dividend

Ahead of the regional meeting on women, children and adolescent’s health, the regional director was joined by the Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance, Mrs. Bintou CHABI ADAM TARO and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, Mr. Siaka COULIBALY, to have an interactive dialogue with over 150 adolescent girls and boys. The session provided a common message on the need to invest in girls, to share experiences on innovative strategies that allow and facilitate the involvement of girls in harnessing the Demographic Dividend.

Regional meeting on the health of women, newborns, children and adolescents in West and Central Africa

On Tuesday, 7 May 2019, UNFPA Regional Director addressed the regional meeting on reducing maternal, newborn and child deaths, organized by the Muskoka French Fund. The regional meeting was an opportunity for Mabingue Ngom to stress the relevance of strengthening systems in place.

He emphasized the participation of young people, if we must accelerate progress: "The lessons learned from our conversations with youth from the eight Muskoka Fund countries will deepen the analysis to accelerate actions for maternal, newborn and child health, strengthen partnerships around the fund and actions. that we can put in place at the institutional level to optimize the coordination mechanism." He remarked.

"Sexual Health Education" Project at Sègbèya General Education College

The Ministry of Secondary Education and Vocational Training in partnership with UNFPA and the Embassies of Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is implementing a "Sexual Health Education" project in Benin. UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa Mr. Ngom paid a visit to the Sègbèya General Education College, one of the sites of the pilot phase of this initiative. The results of this phase were presented by the different actors involved in this framework. Mr. NGOM expressed his appreciation for what is being done especially with regard to the fight against teenage pregnancies and other abuses in schools and non-schools, and suggested to the stakeholders to lead a real fight against impunity in these.