UNFPA and partners are commited to moving forward faster. This paper is part of a series of “acceleration papers” that analyse bottlenecks and identify priority focus areas at regional and country level in West and Central Africa. The aim is to accelerate efforts to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and UNFPA’s three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending the unmet need for family planning and ending gender-based violence and all harmful practices. As UNFPA assesses progress in a midterm review of the UNFPA Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, these papers call for an acceleration of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

This paper is the result of a co- creation by the UNFPA representatives from Cameroon, The Central African Republic, Nigeria and UNFPA advisors from the regional office. Family planning is the foundation of sexual and reproductive health and rights, with multiplier effects and bi-directional relationships with other socioeconomic dimensions such as education, skills and work, gender equality, health and climate change.