Bénédicte Baillou: We created this movement because we want to contribute to reducing social inequalities with a feminist approach. We believe that in order to change the perception of women in society, it is essential to put words to the patriarchal flaws that women are victims of.
First of all, we need to change the narrative, so in this sense we are raising awareness through social networks, then we are doing training and information because the more girls and women are trained, the better they can participate in changing things.
The legal and psychological clinic that provides free support to girls and women who are victims of GBV. We provide them with legal support and judicial assistance so that they can obtain compensation. The second pride for us is the establishment of the political incubator, which is now operational.
The political incubator is a source of pride for us because it is the main reason why the movement was set up in the first place. "Decisions that are made without us for us are made against us. We no longer want to be absent from the decision-making spheres, we want to have our say in the development of public policies and in their implementation. It is for this reason that we are implementing a series of advocacy activities to take into account specific needs in the programming of health policies through the Speak Up Africa Essential Voices initiative.
The first ambition is to position the FEMIN-IN Citizen Movement as a civil society organisation that works with and for communities. The other ambition is to participate in the highlighting of a new generation of political women and girls. Finally, we want to contribute to the emergence of a Burkinabe feminist movement.
For real social change, it is imperative to rely on and with women. Because no nation will develop sustainably without equitable social justice.
Journalist participating in Speak Up Africa's 'Lines for Impact' initiative.
On October 11th, we celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child, a day to talk about the challenges facing girls and to encourage their empowerment. This year's theme was "Digital Generation, Our Generation," a theme that is particularly relevant in the COVID-19 context.
It is essential to support young girls so that they can reach their highest potential and make their own decisions regarding their future because gender inequalities start at a young age. Indeed, while women are the engine of economic development in Africa, it is estimated that it will take 121.7 years to close the gender gap in sub-Saharan Africa.
Still today, there are inequalities in access to health services for girls and women due to cultural, social and economic factors, especially in developing countries: they have lower incomes, have to rely on a family member, carry heavy family burdens, do not have access to education or suffer from discrimination. We also know that these inequalities persist throughout their lives. When they are young, they are not given the same attention as boys when they suffer from childhood diseases. And when they are teenagers and of childbearing age, they do not have proper gynecological advice and care. It should be noted that in addition to maternal mortality, genital mutilation and sexually transmitted diseases, women aged 15 to 49 are more affected by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
These many challenges prevent them from attending school or work and therefore from being fully independent, while at the same time they contribute strongly to the health sector, representing 70% of the community health workers in the world.
Education is a vital foundation for these girls to gain the knowledge they need to participate in policy-making processes and reduce the socio-cultural burdens that follow them throughout their lives.
For Professor Ndioro Ndiaye, Coordinator of the Francophone Network for Gender Equality and President of the Leadership Council of Voix EssentiELLES, it is essential to promote them in decision-making spaces: "As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl, I call for increased representation in political systems, and for more women to get involved in grassroots politics." She said in an op-ed for Face 2 Face Africa. Women are also in the best position to develop policies that will respond precisely to the problems they face daily. Indeed, “women's ability to make their voices heard, to make decisions, and to assume their leadership are essential for their empowerment," she stated for BBC Africa, in a program broadcast for the Day.
The Voix EssentiELLES initiative, launched last July by Speak Up Africa and co-financed by the Global Fund and Fondation CHANEL, in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, addresses these issues. It aims to support and strengthen the capacities of women's and girls' organizations so that they can participate in the development of health policies that affect their health and well-being. Within the framework of Voix EssentiELLES, a dedicated fund has been created and technical support will be provided to them through the University of ExcELLEnce for them to benefit from organizational, leadership, advocacy and communication skills in the three countries.
"I am very happy to see that Voix EssentiELLEs intends to promote the emergence of micro-organizations, which are numerous in Burkina Faso and unfortunately lack funding opportunities to act better. This initiative marks a revolution in the process of implementing health development programs in Burkina Faso. Stevie Reine Yameogo, Vice President of the Network of Young Ambassadors for Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Burkina (JASR-PF/Burkina).
Stevie Reine Yameogo, Vice President of the Network of Young Ambassadors for Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Burkina (JASR-PF/Burkina).
The gender theme is linked to the improvement of the health conditions of the population and must be integrated to respond specifically to the needs of young girls and women.
Also on International Day of the Girl, and to catalyze further attention and investment in the impact of malaria on girls and women, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the Global Fund, Speak Up Africa, and UN Women organized a virtual event on the theme "Advancing Gender Equality for Malaria Elimination".
"For too long the fight against malaria has been gender blind. It is time to address the hidden burden of malaria on women and girls.”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, co-chair of the Global Council to End Malaria, former President of Liberia and founder of the Presidential Center for Women Leaders and Development.
Malaria has many consequences for millions of women and girls in terms of access to health care, school and employment. Malaria is a particular burden on pregnant women, causing nearly 10% of maternal deaths, 11% of newborn deaths and 20% of stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa. Women are at the front of the fight against malaria, whether in the health services as health workers, in the public sphere as community leaders, or at home caring for family members. To enable them to better manage the disease, "we must build the capacity of women and place them on the main stage by empowering them, by helping them, by supporting them morally, physically and financially." emphasizes Fatimata Sy, President of the Senegalese Association for the Future of Women and Children, in a video released at the event about the Voix EssentiELLES initiative.
However, the march towards gender equality can only be achieved if boys and men are included.
The notion of positive masculinity must be widely promoted to allow them to be allies in this fight. In male-dominated spaces, their stance and their commitment would help change behaviors, fight against prejudices and redefine social relations between men and women.
Women's collective voice, when strategically directed, is critical to their ability to negotiate transformative change. The viability and sustainability of this collective voice depends on women's capacity to mobilise for strategic action and coalition building. To this end, on1 July Speak Up Africa launched the "Essential Voices" initiative, funded by the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to strengthen women's and girls' community organisations by investing in their capacity and leadership.
As part of the initiative, Speak Up Africa brought together stakeholders working in the health, women, girls and youth sectors in Abidjan on 28 September to discuss the various challenges and actions that the Voix EssentiELLES initiative could bring about at national level to address gender inequalities.
More specifically, this meeting aimed to (1) present the Voix EssentiELLES programme and strategy to national decision-makers and actors active in the field of public health, (2) to include the Voix EssentiElles programme in the calendar of local actions in the field of health and gender and finally (3) to facilitate the implementation of future actions of the Voix EssentiELLES initiative.
"The role of women in our African societies is undeniable and they must be put forward to claim the rights that concern them directly! It is essential to support women's and girls' organisations, financially and technically, in order to increase their leadership and their involvement in decision-making. This is the only way to make concrete progress towards gender equality, i.e. all together.
Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa.
Creating synergies between actors is essential for women to be able to take part in decision-making and for effective policies to be applied to health problems that still represent an obstacle for women and girls. Indeed, solutions are taken concerning them, without their presence, although they are the ones who know best what is relevant to them.
"Nothing for us, without us.
Mr. Djely Arthur Attea, Executive Director of the organisation Anonymous Côte d'Ivoire.
Women contribute substantially to the economy of the African continent. Whether they are farmers or entrepreneurs, these women are more economically active than women in any other region of the world. Nevertheless, they remain the most vulnerable, especially in the context of the pandemic, in terms of socio-economic and health status. Particular attention must therefore be paid to their needs in order to support them in the face of these consequences.
"I welcome the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, whose philosophy corresponds to the search for sustainable solutions in which we, the women of Dabou, want to participate to get out of this rampant poverty.
Ms Colombe Tohbi, President of AFUG2 (Dabou)
The Voix EssentiELLES initiative will set up a dedicated fund offering financial support and technical support through the University of ExcELLEnce, in the form of a personalised training programme for women living in the three countries. The University aims to strengthen their organisational, advocacy, communication and leadership skills. Training modules will be provided to them, while being adapted to the needs of each selected organisation, based on the capacity assessment and the specific context of each country.
Based in Dakar, Senegal, Speak Up Africa is a non-profit strategic communications and advocacy organisation dedicated to catalysing African leadership, driving policy change and raising awareness around sustainable development in Africa. By keeping improved public health at the heart of our work, we support the achievement of MDGs 1-6, which include the transformation of African societies and ensuring that every man, woman and child is able to live a long and healthy life.
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The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund challenges barriers and embraces innovation.
Women's collective voice, when strategically directed, is critical to their ability to negotiate transformative change. The viability and sustainability of this collective voice depends on women's capacity to mobilise for strategic action and coalition building. To this end, on1 July Speak Up Africa launched the "Essential Voices" initiative, funded by the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to strengthen women's and girls' community organisations by investing in their capacity and leadership.
As part of the initiative, Speak Up Africa brought together stakeholders working in the health, women, girls and youth sectors in Ouagadougou on 21 September to discuss the various challenges and actions that the Voix EssentiELLES initiative could bring about at national level to address gender inequalities.
More specifically, this meeting aimed to (1) present the Voix EssentiELLES programme and strategy to national decision-makers and actors active in the field of public health, (2) to include the Voix EssentiElles programme in the calendar of local actions in the field of health and gender and finally (3) to facilitate the implementation of future actions of the Voix EssentiELLES initiative.
"We know that there are many women's and girls' organisations that work with, for and with communities every day. These organisations are often overlooked and under-appreciated by national decision-makers, yet they are best placed to address the most pressing gender equality challenges. To meet these challenges, we need to strengthen their capacities but also their opportunities, whether in terms of funding or representation.
Yacine Djibo, Speak Up Africa’s Executive Director
Creating synergies between actors is essential for women to be able to take part in decision-making spaces and for effective policies to be applied to health issues that still represent a barrier for women and girls.
"I am very happy to see that Voix essentielle intends to promote the emergence of micro organisations, of which there are many in Burkina Faso and which unfortunately lack the funding opportunities to act more effectively. This initiative marks a revolution in the process of implementing health development programmes in Burkina Faso. Indeed, community-based micro-organisations, especially those led by young people and women, are a force for proposals and for the redistribution of relevant and sustainable actions that are poorly taken into account in the health policy-making process. We believe that, in the long run, the Essential Voices project will make it possible to achieve the health democracy that we so covet.
Stevie Reine Yameogo, Vice President of the Network of Young Ambassadors for Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Burkina (JASR-PF/Burkina).
Women contribute substantially to the economy of the African continent. Whether they are farmers or entrepreneurs, these women are more economically active than women in any other region of the world. However, throughout the ages, these same women have been systematically excluded from decision-making spaces and programmes that affect their health and well-being.
It is clear that men should not be excluded from the promotion of gender equality, as they have a role to play in the empowerment of women, particularly in relation to their health.
"The approach of integrating and empowering local organisations from the grassroots is a great initiative. If this Voix EssentiELLEs dynamic is maintained, I am convinced that the project will contribute to promoting a real capacity for action and for women to claim their health rights.
W. Cécile Thiombiano Yougbare, Lawyer, Population and Health Policy Analyst.
The Voix EssentiELLES initiative will set up a dedicated fund offering financial support and technical support through the University of ExcELLEnce, in the form of a personalised training programme for women living in the three countries. The University aims to strengthen their organisational, advocacy, communication and leadership skills. Training modules will be provided to them, while being adapted to the needs of each selected organisation, based on the capacity assessment and the specific context of each country.
Based in Dakar, Senegal, Speak Up Africa is a non-profit strategic communications and advocacy organisation dedicated to catalysing African leadership, driving policy change and raising awareness around sustainable development in Africa. By keeping improved public health at the heart of our work, we support the achievement of MDGs 1-6, which include the transformation of African societies and ensuring that every man, woman and child is able to live a long and healthy life.
Website
Twitter
Facebook
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LinkedIn
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund challenges barriers and embraces innovation.
Women's collective voice, when strategically directed, is critical to their ability to negotiate transformative change. The viability and sustainability of this collective voice depends on women's capacity to mobilise for strategic action and coalition building. To this end, on1 July Speak Up Africa launched the "Essential Voices" initiative, funded by the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to strengthen women's and girls' community organisations by investing in their capacity and leadership.
As part of the initiative, Speak Up Africa brought together stakeholders working in the health, women's, girls' and youth sectors in Dakar on 14 September to discuss the various challenges and actions that the Voix EssentiELLES initiative could bring about at the national level to address gender inequalities. More specifically, this meeting aimed to (1) present the Voix EssentiELLES programme and strategy to national decision-makers and actors active in the field of public health, (2) include the Voix EssentiElles programme in the calendar of local actions in the field of health and gender and finally (3) facilitate the implementation of future actions of the Voix EssentiELLES initiative.
"Through these collaborations, we can design meaningful and high-impact joint actions in the field of public health to enable women and girls to have access to quality health systems. Gender issues and access to health services cannot be separated. The involvement of communities is all the more essential as our ultimate goal is to provide them with solutions that respond precisely to their needs.
Yacine Djibo,
Executive Director of Speak Up Africa.
Creating synergies between actors is essential for women to be able to take part in decision-making spaces and for effective policies to be applied to health issues that still represent a barrier for women and girls.
"Equality between women and men can only be achieved in reality when women have access to economic autonomy. And this autonomy for women requires access to education. This is a necessary but not sufficient condition. Voix EssentiELLES is a timely initiative that I am delighted to support in order to improve the living conditions of our people in West Africa.
Prof. Ndioro Ndiaye
Coordinator of the Francophone Network for Gender Equality of the International Organisation of the Francophonie
Women contribute substantially to the economy of the African continent. Whether they are farmers or entrepreneurs, these women are more economically active than women in any other region of the world. However, throughout the ages, these same women have been systematically excluded from decision-making spaces and programmes that affect their health and well-being.
It is clear that men should not be excluded from the promotion of gender equality, as they have a role to play in the empowerment of women, particularly in relation to their health.
"We are aware of the inequalities we face in our country and women's access to decision-making bodies remains difficult. The Voix EssentiELLES initiative was created to contribute to this fight against inequalities in order to enable women and girls to live in well-being and sustainable development. Knowing that access to health care is intrinsically linked to the social determinants of health, we need to establish an open multi-sectoral dialogue on gender issues to have a long-term impact.
Mrs Ndèye Mingué Ndiaye Gacko
Coordinator of the Gender Unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Action.
The Voix EssentiELLES initiative will set up a dedicated fund offering financial support and technical support through the University of ExcELLEnce, in the form of a personalised training programme for women living in the three countries. The University aims to strengthen their organisational, advocacy, communication and leadership skills. Training modules will be provided to them, while being adapted to the needs of each selected organisation, based on the capacity assessment and the specific context of each country.
Based in Dakar, Senegal, Speak Up Africa is a non-profit strategic communications and advocacy organisation dedicated to catalysing African leadership, driving policy change and raising awareness around sustainable development in Africa. By keeping improved public health at the heart of our work, we support the achievement of MDGs 1-6, which include the transformation of African societies and ensuring that every man, woman and child is able to live a long and healthy life.
For more information:
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WhatsApp: +221 77 187 76 94
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund challenges barriers and embraces innovation.
Dakar, 1 July 2021 - Today, the Dakar-based advocacy organization Speak Up Africa, in partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the CHANEL Foundation, is launching the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, which aims to strengthen the voice of women and girls and thus promote their involvement in the processes and decision-making spaces that influence health policies and programmes.
Launched as part of the Generation Equality Forum, a global gathering for gender equality organised by the United Nations this week, Voix EssentiELLES aims to foster the involvement of women's organisations, leaders and groups in decision-making platforms. Applications are now open and 50 organisations will be eligible for technical and financial support. The project will aim to strengthen their skills and abilities to influence policies and programmes that directly affect their health and well-being.
Women's and girls' organisations and networks in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal are invited to apply for grants through the new dedicated fund. In a second phase, the initiative will be extended to other countries in Central and West Africa over the next three years. Each organisation can apply for a grant of up to 5 million CFA francs (US$10,000) to strengthen its voice in and contribute to the design of health programmes and policies in its country.
Through this initiative, the selected community-based organisations will be offered a customised training programme that will enable women and girls from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to strengthen their organisational, leadership, advocacy and communication skills. The training modules, tailored to the needs of the selected organisations based on an assessment and the national context, in collaboration with an advisory board, will be delivered by the University of excELLEnce in the three countries.
Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse our hard-won gains and progress towards gender equality
said Caty Fall Sow, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the Global Fund
The Global Fund is honoured to be part of Essential Voices to continue to give voice to women and girls and to support their meaningful engagement in the development of health policies that affect their health and well-being.
Despite the progress made, our societies are still far from having made gender equality a permanent reality. It is estimated that it will take at least 135.6 years for women to achieve equality in work and pay. Yet gender equality is essential to building more sustainable societies and political and economic ecosystems.
The sustainable development of Africa will not become a reality without the active participation of women and girls. It is crucial to have initiatives such as Voix EssentiELLES, which aim to provide a rallying point for civil society organisations and federate energies in an endogenous dynamic of reflection based on different women's experiences at the micro and/or local level.
said Prof. Ndioro Ndiaye, Coordinator of the Francophone Network for Gender Equality, International Organisation of La Francophonie.
In partnership with ExcELLEnce University, Speak Up Africa will organise advocacy meetings in each country with key stakeholders and selected women and girls' organisations. The aim is to maximise their inclusion in national coalitions and decision-making spaces and processes in their respective countries.
As a women-led organisation in Africa, we are particularly passionate about the issues addressed by Voix EssentiELLES, and are therefore delighted to help manage and organise this important project. It is essential that women and girls take ownership of the issues that affect their health and are empowered to play their part in decision-making spaces to develop effective policies for them and future generations. We look forward to working with community-based women's organisations in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, and I hope that many of them will take this opportunity to make a difference by applying now.
concluded Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa.
To mark the launch of this initiative and transformative fund, Speak Up Africa organised an inter-generational and inter-sectoral roundtable, with a keynote address by Professor Ndioro Ndiaye, former Minister of Women, Children and the Family in Senegal and Coordinator of the Francophone Network for Gender Equality at the International Organisation of the Francophonie. The round table brought together the following speakers:
Civil society organisations are key to ensuring that the voice of the people is heard. Projects such as Voix EssentiELLES will go a long way to supporting women and girls in local communities, ensuring that they have influence in wider health policies and programmes.
said Nogaye Sow, Bajenu Gox (neighbourhood sponsor), Thienaba, Senegal
As part of the launch of the Essential Voices project, community dialogues will be held in Thienaba in Senegal, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Dabou in Côte d'Ivoire. These dialogues will support our engagement with the communities and help us to get feedback on the Essential Voices project and how the initiative can best serve the communities.
Voix EssentiELLES directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the commitment of the Equality Forum's Coalition of Action for Women's Leadership and Movements. The goal is to increase the participation and decision-making power of women, girls and feminist leaders, including trans, intersex and non-binary women, by 2026.
For more information on how to apply to Voix Essentielles, visit the website: www.voixessentielles.org or contact us by WhatsApp on +221 77 187 76 94.
Based in Dakar, Senegal, Speak Up Africa is a political action and advocacy group dedicated to catalysing leadership, driving policy change and raising awareness of sustainable development in Africa. With the health and well-being of all at the heart of our concerns, we support SDGs 1-6 by transforming societies across Africa and ensuring that every man, woman and child has the means to live a long and healthy life. Through our platforms and relationships, and with the help of our partners, we ensure that decision-makers meet implementers, that solutions are presented, and that every sector - from individual citizens and civil society groups to global donors and business leaders - contributes critically to the dialogue and works to develop plans for concrete action for public health and sustainable development.
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of the AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$ 4 billion annually to support locally managed programs in over 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by these diseases, the Global Fund addresses barriers and promotes innovation. Removing barriers related to gender and human rights is one of the Global Fund's strategic priorities; with meaningful community engagement at the heart of its strategy and related processes. For more information: www.theglobalfund.org.