Dakar, Senegal/ Libreville, Gabon, 20 April 2023-  The United Nations Population Fund Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, on 20 April 2023, wrapped up an official visit to the Republic of Gabon, a visit meant to foster ties of cooperation between the country and UNFPA in accelerating efforts to achieve the agency’s three goals of zero need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.

In her meeting with the Vice President of Gabon, HE Mrs. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, they both discussed, among others, the empowerment of women and girls. The Vice President highlighted Gabon’s progress in promoting the rights of women and girls and gender equality under the leadership of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, with women occupying strategic positions such as the presidency of the Senate and that of the Constitutional Court.

The Director also attended a graduation ceremony of 905 midwives, trained with UNFPA support in line with the goal of the global call for zero preventable maternal deaths.  Pr. MOUSSAVOU KOMBILA Jean Baptiste, Dean of the faculty of Maieutic and Sciences, welcomed the collaboration that enabled the establishment of the reference system for the training of midwives and requested the support of UNFPA for the establishment of a skills laboratory. “We warmly appreciate the presence of the Regional Director of UNFPA and her warm advice on the role we have to play in reducing maternal mortality.”

The visit came amid the release by UNFPA of the State of the World Population Report 2023 on 19 April. It identified rising population anxiety and urged a radical rethink of how countries address changing demographics. The report also highlights that 11 percent of women unable to make decisions specifically about contraception.

This year's report focuses on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development.

Joining Ms. Matavel for a hybrid regional launch of the report were Gabon's Minister of Health Dr. Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Recovery and representatives from sister UN agencies, including the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

Representative of the Ministry of the Economy and Recovery Christian Ebé said, “Demographic change is a testament to the efforts made by the various states and partners including the United Nations Organizations. This evolution can be both a source of problem and a solution because human capital is at the center of our concerns. Gabon has put human capital at the center of its policy. We need to elaborate plans to address the issues related to economic dividend.”

On the sidelines of the visit, Ms. Matavel participated in the Gabonese National Women's Day, attended by government officials, the UN Resident Coordinator in Gabon, Dr. Savina Ammassari and the UNFPA Resident Representative, Mr. Auguste Kpognon.

Reflecting on the visit, Ms. Matavel thanked the Government of Gabon for the continued support to UNFPA programmes and mandate. "As an agency, UNFPA will continue to support national efforts in the region and in Gabon, to advance the rights of women and girls and to accelerate our mandate”.

Meanwhile, Ms. Matavel on 20 April arrived in Sao Tome and Principe, where she will hold high-level discussions with government representatives. The Regional Director is on a working visit to three countries in the region. The last leg of the visit is in the Central Africa Republic.