Sexual and reproductive health remains a sensitive subject across the region.

The Ebola outbreak and the Boko Haram insurgency affected millions of people along the Mano River and around the Lake Chad Basin. Populations affected include a high number of women deprived of reproductive health services, forced to deliver their babies at home- with the inevitable increase in infant and maternal mortality rates.

Doctors, nurses and other health workers are amongst those fleeing their homes or being redeployed, leaving a huge gap in medical services. In response, we are working to deliver comprehensive sexuality education; sexual and reproductive health services; engaging traditional leaders and the media; prioritizing humanitarian situations; empowering youth leaders; informing legal and policy frameworks and undertaking advocacy initiatives.

Through the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Project (SWEDD), we are working to reduce fertility and child mortality to achieve the broader goals of triggering the Demographic Dividend (economic gains) and reducing gender inequality in the Sahel region.