February 22, 2024, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - Public-private partnerships, multi-sector collaboration, self-esteem, gender-based violence, the intersection between gender and public health, and positive masculinity, all topics discussed at the event "The importance of platforms, spaces for dialogue and representation in the fight against gender-based violence and for the achievement of gender equality" organized as part of the Voix EssentiELLES initiative in Abidjan, on February 20, 2024. An initiative aimed at strengthening organizations led by women and girls, in all their diversity, by meaningfully engaging them in the decision-making processes and spaces that influence health policies and programs. Implemented by Speak Up Africa and co-financed by the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, the initiative, launched in 2021, so far includes 39 community-based organizations in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
We know that if we are to put an end to the diseases and scourges that affect our communities and economies, it is essential that policies aimed at tackling health problems take effective account of the gender issue by incorporating the experience and experiences of women and girls.
Professor Mamadou Samba, Côte d'Ivoire's Director General of Health, in his inaugural speech.
The event featured exchanges and panel discussions between Dr. Danielle Adjafi, President of the CCM (Country Coordination Mechanism) of Côte d'Ivoire, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, Ghislain Coulibaly, Sociologist and Director of Speak Up Africa. Danielle Adjafi, President of Côte d'Ivoire's CCM(Country Coordination Mechanism), Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, Ghislain Coulibaly, Sociologist and President of the Réseau des Hommes Engagés pour l'Égalité Femmes-Hommes en Côte d'Ivoire, Nene Fofana, Founder of Africa Forward Consulting Group, Aïssata Sidibé, Founder and CEO of Afrique Femme, Amanda Savadogo, General Secretary of the Association d'Appui aux Enfants et Femmes Vulnérables, Sylvie Diack, Coordinator of the Club des jeunes filles de Kolda and Aicha Ouédraogo of the Association Tends-moi la main.
Voix EssentiELLES embodies our commitment to amplifying the voices of women and girls in decision-making spaces. Their leadership is essential to shaping inclusive and equitable healthcare policies.
Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa at the first panel on "Leadership, representation and collaboration: The power of connectivity to accelerate gender equality and the health of women and girls in West Africa".
Women, who are at the heart of their communities, need to be included in decision-making bodies, as they are better placed to talk about local issues.
Amanda Savadogo, CCM member from Burkina Faso.
The Government of Canada is a strong supporter of the Global Fund and a champion of gender equality. In November 2022, on the occasion of the "16 Days of Activism" campaign, His Excellency Anderson Blanc, Canadian Ambassador to Côte d' Ivoire, and his team met with a team of Voix EssentiELLES from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. Champion #LuiPourElle, he declared during his speech at the event:
Canada, through its feminist international aid policy, is deeply committed to the promotion of gender equality and actively supports the empowerment of women and girls. As such, we support the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, as Canada firmly believes that women and girls must be placed at the heart of decision-making processes, encouraging them in particular to contribute to the development of health policies and programs. Women have the right to speak. Let's hear their voice! For them, for the inclusive development and prosperity of their communities!
His Excellency Anderson Blanc, Ambassador of Canada to Côte d'Ivoire
Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread human rights challenges in the world today. One in three women is a victim of some form of physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender inequality, discrimination and harmful cultural and social norms that emphasize the superiority of men over women, normalize violence against women and allow perpetrators to act with impunity.
During the second panel on "Platforms, partners and coalitions working together to end gender-based violence in Côte d'Ivoire and Africa", Ghislain Coulibaly, Founding President of the Réseau des Hommes Engagés pour l'Égalité de Genre, also a sociologist and gender specialist, discussed positive masculinity as an alternative for reducing gender-based violence in Africa: " Positive masculinity is a new alternative for effectively reducing gender-based violence in Africa".
France, a Founding Member of the Global Fund, was represented by Ms Emmanuelle Espié, Regional Advisor for Global Health at the French Embassy in C'ôte d'Ivoire, who reaffirmed the country's commitment to global health, but also to women's health: " Supporting African women is fundamental to building resilient communities and promoting gender equality. We need to be aware of our realities and responsibilities ". At the previous Replenishment Conference in September 2022, France pledged 1.596 billion euros, a 23% increase on its previous contribution. This commitment testifies to the country's strong commitment to positioning global health as a priority of French development policy, which is also reflected in its recent global health strategy for 2023-2027.
Concluding the exchange session, Irad Gbazale, Voix EssentiELLES from Côte d'Ivoire, activist and President of the Agboville-based organization Femmes en Action, declared: " We must be ready and willing to take up the challenges and inspire change across Africa. Gender-based violence is a scourge for us all. Let's not be afraid to speak the truth. Shame must change sides.
When women and girls are empowered and supported to play a role in the decision-making process, truly effective health policies and programs that take into account gender differences and cultural sensitivities can be developed and implemented, drawing on the lived experience of women and girls. In this way, Voix EssentiELLES aims to strengthen women's leadership and support women and girls in their diversity, by investing in the capacities of grassroots organizations to improve health and equality.
February 22, 2024, Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Public-private partnerships, multisectoral collaboration, self-esteem, gender-based violence, the intersection between gender and public health, and positive masculinity were among the topics discussed at the event "The Importance of Platforms, Dialogue Spaces, and Representation in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence and for Achieving Gender Equality" organized as part of the Voix EssentiELLES initiative in Abidjan, on February 20, 2024. An initiative aimed at strengthening organizations led by women and girls, in all their diversity, by engaging them meaningfully in decision-making processes and spaces that influence health policies and programs. Implemented by Speak Up Africa and co-financed by the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, the initiative, launched in 2021, now includes 39 community-based organizations in Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.
We know that if we want to end the diseases and scourges affecting our communities and economies, it is essential that health policies effectively address gender issues by integrating the experiences and lived realities of women and girls.
Professor Mamadou Samba, Director General of Health of Ivory Coast during his opening speech
The event highlighted exchanges and panel discussions between Dr. Danielle Adjafi, President of the CCM (Country Coordination Mechanism) of Ivory Coast. Danielle Adjafi, President of the CCM (Country Coordination Mechanism) of Ivory Coast, Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, Ghislain Coulibaly, Sociologist President of the Network of Men Committed to Gender Equality in Ivory Coast, Nene Fofana, Founder of Africa Forward Consulting Group, Aïssata Sidibé, Founder and CEO of Afrique Femme, Amanda Savadogo, General Secretary of the Support Association for Vulnerable Children and Women, Sylvie Diack, Coordinator of the Kolda Young Girls' Club, and Aicha Ouédraogo from the Association Tends-moi la main.
Voix EssentiELLES embodies our commitment to amplifying the voices of women and girls in decision-making spaces. Their leadership is essential to shaping inclusive and equitable health policies.
Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa during the first panel on "Leadership, Representation, and Collaboration: The Power of Connectivity to Accelerate Gender Equality and the Health of Women and Girls in West Africa."
Women, at the heart of their communities, must be integrated into decision-making spaces, as they are better able to speak about field issues.
Amanda Savadogo, a member of the CCM of Burkina Faso.
The Government of Canada is a staunch supporter of the Global Fund and a champion of gender equality. In November 2022, during the "16 Days of Activism" campaign, His Excellency Mr. Anderson Blanc, Ambassador of Canada to Ivory Coast, and his team met with a team of Voix EssentiELLES from Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. A #HeForShe champion, he stated during his speech at the event:
Canada, through its feminist international aid policy, is deeply committed to promoting gender equality and actively supports the empowerment of women and girls. As such, we support the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, because Canada firmly believes that women and girls must be at the heart of decision-making processes, encouraging them to contribute to the development of health policies and programs. Women have the right to speak up. Let's hear their voices! For them, for inclusive development, and the prosperity of their communities!
His Excellency Mr. Anderson Blanc, Ambassador of Canada to Ivory Coast
Violence against women and girls is today one of the most widespread human rights challenges in the world. One in three women is a victim of some form of physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender inequality, discrimination, and harmful cultural and social norms that emphasize men's superiority over women, normalize violence against women, and allow perpetrators to act with impunity.
During the second panel on "Platforms, Partners, and Coalitions Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence in Ivory Coast and Africa," Ghislain Coulibaly, Founder and President of the Network of Men Committed to Gender Equality, also a sociologist and Gender Specialist, discussed positive masculinity as an alternative to reducing gender-based violence in Africa
Positive masculinity is a new alternative for effective reduction of gender-based violence in Africa.
Ghislain Coulibaly, Founder and President of the Network of Men Committed to Gender Equality, also a sociologist and Gender Specialist
France, a Founding Member of the Global Fund, was represented by Ms. Emmanuelle Espié, Regional Health Advisor at the French Embassy in Ivory Coast, who reaffirmed the country's commitment to global health, and to women's health:
Supporting African women is fundamental to building resilient communities and promoting gender equality. We must be aware of our realities and responsibilities.
Ms. Emmanuelle Espié Emmanuelle Espié, Regional Health Advisor at the French Embassy in Ivory Coast
At the previous Resource Replenishment Conference in September 2022, France pledged 1.596 billion euros, a 23% increase over its previous contribution. This commitment demonstrates the country's strong commitment to positioning global health as a priority of French development policy, which is also reflected in its recent global health strategy for 2023-2027.
To conclude the exchange session, Irad Gbazale, a Voix EssentiELLES from Ivory Coast, activist, and President of the organization Women in Action, based in Agboville, stated: " We must be ready to face challenges and inspire change throughout Africa. Gender-based violence is a scourge for all of us. Do not be afraid to speak the truth. Shame must change sides. When women and girls are empowered and supported to play a role in the decision-making process, truly effective health policies and programs that take into account gender differences and cultural sensitivities can be developed and implemented, building on the lived experience of women and girls. Thus, Voix EssentiELLES aims to strengthen female leadership and support women and girls in their diversity, by investing in the capacities of grassroots organizations to improve health and equality.
Kigali, July 18, 2023- On the sidelines of the Women Deliver 2023 conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Voix EssentiELLES, Her Voice Fund, Speak Up Africa, Y+Global, ViiV Healthcare Positive Action and the Global Fund are organizing a session around the theme "Advancing gender equality by investing in the meaningful engagement of women and girls in decision-making spaces". This session launches the second phase of Voix EssentiELLES, an initiative supported by the CHANEL Foundation and the Global Fund to empower women and girls and promote their involvement in decision-making processes and spaces.
This year, 2023, marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Maputo Protocol on Women's Rights, which establishes the guarantee of women's rights as an essential condition for sustainable development. Yet women still face multiple obstacles in accessing health care, education, economic opportunities and decision-making bodies. The meeting, organized during the Women Deliver 2023 conference, highlighted the voices of community organizations, women and girls, activists and donors who work daily to remove economic, religious and socio-cultural barriers to the full development of women and girls in all their diversity.
Larissa Bachia, Program Manager at IDEO, emphasized the need for a community-based approach in the design and implementation of initiatives to achieve gender equality.
"We need to eliminate stereotypes, strengthen girls' initiatives and ensure they have the means to participate actively in society. They need to sit at the same table as funders and implementing organizations as equals. We need a paradigm shift in the way we work. We can be experts in our fields of intervention, but the decision-making on what will work and what won't must be left to those whose lives are affected by the solutions we design and implement," declared Larissa Bachia.
Participants from feminist organizations, women's networks, civil society, the private sector and philanthropic organizations exchanged best practices and approaches, as well as lessons learned from women's initiatives to promote gender equality and strengthen the leadership of women and girls. The meeting presented promising initiatives, success factors and obstacles in implementing collaborative initiatives that meet the multiple needs of women and women's networks. It also addressed the theme of strategic partnerships, exploring ways for philanthropic organizations and women's and girls' networks to work together more effectively, as well as strategic alliances to influence policies, programs and funding to advance gender equality.
Among the panelists was Jennifer Van, President of "Jeunes engagées pour la sexualité", a recipient organization of the Voix EssentiELLES Fund in Côte d'Ivoire in 2021 and 2022. Drawing on her organization's significant success and impact in combating violence and inequality against women and girls in Côte d'Ivoire, Jennifer Van reiterated the urgent need for sustainable investment in women's leadership and the empowerment of women and girls. "Thanks to the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, we have been able to help hundreds of young girls take control of their sexual health by avoiding risky sexual practices. It's vital to support women's organizations working to eliminate gender inequalities, because empowering women is an essential lever for sustainable and equitable development in Africa", insisted Jennifer Van.
The meeting also enabled participants to explore new opportunities for partnerships and innovative financing to support community initiatives dedicated to gender equality. To this end, the various speakers placed particular emphasis on the importance of public-private partnerships in mobilizing funding to achieve significant progress towards gender equality.
"Faced with the enormous challenges of achieving gender equality, we need to leverage the skills and contributions of everyone. Governments and businesses must work with women and girls in all their diversity to create an inclusive ecosystem in which women and girls can flourish and contribute fully to development", said Kate Thomson, Head of Community, Rights and Gender at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
For Maximina Jokonya, Coordinator of HER Voice Fund, public-private partnerships can be a powerful strategy for ending gender disparities and amplifying the voices of women and girls.
"It's crucial that the public and private sectors pool their resources and expertise to drive social transformation towards gender equality. The synergy of their actions will make it possible to implement inclusive policies, create positive role models and foster the development of women as leaders and decision-makers", explains Maximina Jokonya.
Fara Ndiaye, Deputy Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, pointed out that collaboration between the public and private sectors is a strategic axis that cuts across all Speak Up Africa programs and initiatives, including those dedicated to gender equality.
"Having been a younger, smaller organization ourselves, and with what was considered a lower financial absorption capacity just a few years ago, we are now very proud to be in a position where we can build the capacity and potential of dozens of community-based organizations across West Africa. With this second phase, we are striving to achieve greater impact while building trust and lasting relationships with our community partners," added Fara Ndiaye.
Dakar, 18th July 2023- Alongside the Women Deliver 2023 conference taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, Voix EssentiELLES, Her Voice Fund, Speak Up Africa, Y+ Global, ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, and the Global Fund hosted a side event on the theme "Advancing gender equality through investing in women and girl's meaningful engagement in decision-making spaces". This event kicks off the second phase of Voix EssentiELLES, an initiative supported by Fondation CHANEL and the Global Fund and aimed at empowering women and girls and promote their participation in decision-making processes and spaces.
This year, 2023, marks the twentieth anniversary of the Maputo Protocol on African Women's Rights. This protocol established African women's rights guarantee as a fundamental condition for sustainable development. Yet women still face multiple barriers in accessing healthcare, education, economic opportunities, and decision-making bodies in Africa. Organized as part of the Women Deliver 2023 conference, the event was an opportunity to highlight the voices of community organization, women and girls, activists and funders committed to tackling health, economic, religious, and socio-cultural barriers to the development of women and girls in all their diversity.
Larissa Bachia, Senior Program Lead at IDEO, emphasized the need for a community-based approach to the design and implementation of gender equality programmes. "We need to neutralize hierarchies, reinforce girl's agency, and ensure they have the means for active participation. They should sit on a table with funders and implementing organizations as peers. We need to embrace new ways of working. We can be subject matter experts, but decision-making on what will work and what will not work should be left for those whose lives are affected by the solutions we design and implement" she commented.
Participants from feminist organizations, women's networks, civil society, private sector, and philanthropic organizations discussed best practices, approaches and lessons learned from women-led initiatives to promote gender equality. The event featured inter-connected themes including: What Works- featuring promising initiatives, success factors and bottlenecks within collaborative initiatives that address multiple needs of women and networks and Strategic Partnerships - interrogating funders and women and girls can collaborate better, building alliances, leverage on each others' expertise, influence policies, programmes and financing towards advancing gender equality and meaningful participation.
Jennifer Van, President of "Jeunes engagées pour la sexualité", a Voix EssentiELLES Fund grantee in Côte d'Ivoire in 2021 and 2022, was one of the panelists. She highlighted her organization's significant achievements and impact in fighting gender-based violence and inequality in Côte d'Ivoire. She also emphasized the urgent need to invest in women's leadership and empowerment and the need for long-term funding for organizations like hers.
"Through the Voix EssentiELLES initiative, we have helped hundreds of young girls take control of their sexual health by avoiding risky sexual behavior. It is vital to support women-led organizations working to eliminate gender inequality, as women's empowerment is a key lever for sustainable and equitable development in Africa," said Jennifer Van.
The meeting also provided participants with an opportunity to explore new partnership opportunities and innovative financing to support community-based initiative to ensure that gender equality becomes a reality. The speakers highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in increasing investments and finding innovative ways to accelerate progress towards advancing gender equality.
"There are still enormous challenges to achieving gender equality and we must leverage the skills and contributions of all. Governments and businesses must work together with women and girls in all their diversity to create an inclusive ecosystem where women and girls can thrive and contribute fully to development," said Kate Thomson, Head of Community, Rights and Gender at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Maximina Jokonya, coordinator of the HER Voice Fund, believes that public-private partnerships can be a powerful strategy for ending gender inequality and amplifying women and girls' voices. "It is crucial that the public and private sectors pool their resources and expertise to drive social change and achieve gender equality. The synergy of their actions can lead to the implementation of inclusive policies, the creation of positive role models and the development of women as leaders and decision-makers," said Maximina Jokonya.
Fara Ndiaye, Deputy Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, emphasized that collaboration between the public and private sectors is a key strategy in all Speak Up Africa interventions, including gender equality initiatives.
"As once a younger, smaller organization with what was considered lower absorptive financial capacity, we feel tremendously blessed to now be in a position where we can strengthen the capacities and unleash the potential of dozens of grassroots organizations across West Africa. With this second phase, we strive for increased impact as we further build trust and sustainable relationships with our grantees", she concluded.
As part of the second African LeadHERs' Forum, Speak Up Africa organized a series of webinars called "Webinars of equality". Held on the sidelines of International Women's Day on the theme "Digital spaces to achieve gender equality", these webinars aimed to amplify the voices of women from various sectors - from community-based organizations to pan-African sports organizations inside and outside the continent - to highlight the urgency of reducing gender inequalities around the world.
114 participants from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, France, and Senegal took part in these virtual conversations held on March 14 and 28. The webinars brought together a dozen speakers from various sectors, including health, civil society, and sport. The first one convened the Voix EssentiELLES and was held on the theme "Voix EssentiELLES, all committed to a more inclusive world" while the second focused on "Leadership, Mentorship and Diasporas: the power of sport to achieve gender equality".
During the first virtual meeting, the Voix EssentiELLES speakers highlighted the need to address inequalities that prevent women from accessing digital services.
Gender inequalities in digital access remain persistent throughout the world. In Africa, for example, it is estimated that nearly 80% of women do not have access to digital technology. In the case of mobile internet use, the gap between men and women on the continent is 37% in 2022.
The Voix EssentiELLES recalled that these limited access to digital space accentuate gender inequalities since it prevents women from accessing specific digital services related to health, education, or finance. Women's exclusion from the digital world undermines efforts to achieve gender equity and threatens the progress made in women's rights.
"Covid-19 has shown that digital space is important in the fight for gender equality. Today, thanks to the power of social networks, women's rights activists can have an impact on millions of women’s living conditions even in rural areas."
Gbazalé Irad, President of Femmes en action and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLES Fund in Côte d'Ivoire
"The digital space is one of the main factors for women's empowerment. It is a crucial tool to propel the voices of all women to the public sphere on issues that concern them."
Aissatou Lopy Mbaye Ndiaye, Vice President of the National Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund in Senegal.
In addition to these difficulties of access to digital technology, women are the first victims of online violence. In 2021, for example, a study revealed that 85% of women in the world are exposed to violence on the Internet, including harassment.
"It is important to raise awareness about the existence of online violence in Senegal, as there is a real lack of knowledge about this scourge in our communities."
Oussama Sagna Monique, Project Manager at JGEN and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLES Fund in Senegal
The second webinar convened several sports personalities such as Diandra Tchatchouang Djadjo, former international basketball player, Axel Toupane, International basketball player, Syra Sylla, President of the association Ladies and Basketball and Marie-Laurence Archambault, CSR Manager at the African Basketball League. They highlighted the need to fight gender stereotypes that persist in the sports world as well as the importance of using digital space to strengthen women's representation in sport.
"Representation in sport is extremely important, as young girls do not imagine themselves in sports careers that they do not see or that are not promoted. In this sense, digital allows us to facilitate the connection between female sports role models and young girls but also to create our own media and platforms to change the narrative about women in sport."
Syra Sylla, President of the Ladies and Basketball Association and Head of Communications at Sport Impact
Recipients of Voix EssentiELLES Fund from Burkina Faso, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire are participating in the meeting under the theme "Voix EssentiELLES speak up against gender-based violence". A round table on the regional challenges of the fight against gender-based violence as well as institutional meetings to sensitize communities and policy makers on their role in the elimination of violence against women and girls are on the agenda.
According to a UN Women report published in September 2022, nearly 65% of women worldwide reported having experienced verbal, physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. At least 6 out of 10 women believe that public sexual harassment has worsened since Covid-19. This violence is not only a major obstacle to the elimination of the HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, but also has a significant impact on global economy. Without urgent action, UN Women's report warns, it would take 300 years to close the gap in legal protection or representation of women in power and leadership.
"Urgent action must be taken if we are to meet SDG 5 - achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls - which is essential for sustainable development. Creating a just and prosperous society is impossible when women and girls, key members of our communities, continue to be victims of violence and inequality of all kinds."
Abouma Sévérine Nebie, president of Association pour l’Intégration Économique et Sociale des Femmes dans le développement (IES-Femmes) which is involved in Voix EssentiELLES initiative in Burkina Faso
"It is crucial to strengthen the awareness and commitment of all stakeholders for the elimination of gender-based inequalities and violence. In this regard, Voix EssentiELLES organisations meeting in Abidjan is a real springboard."
Khady Cissé founder of Organisation pour la Santé de l'Enfant de la Femme et de la Famille (OSEFF), which is involved in the Voix EssentiELLES initiative in Côte d'Ivoire
Launched by Speak Up Africa in 2021 in partnership with CHANEL Foundation and the Global Fund, Voix EssentiELLES initiative promotes the involvement of community-based women and girls’ organizations in decision-making and strengthens their capacity to influence policies that affect their health. With funding from Voix EssentiELLES fund, the organizations involved in the initiative are on the front line to fight violence and inequality against women and girls in their countries.
"Whether it is at health, economic or social level, great progress has been made whenever women and girls have the capacity to express their full potential. It is therefore essential to financially and technically support women's organizations working to strengthen women's leadership and reverse current gender inequalities."
Fatimata Mamadou Lamine SY, Executive Secretary of the Association Sénégalaise pour l'avenir de la femme et de l'enfant (ASAFE), which is involved in the Voix EssentiELLES initiative in Senegal
August 12, 2022, Dakar, Senegal - On International Youth Day, young people across the continent are urging their leaders to take more action, innovation and funding to fight malaria. In an open letter, also supported by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Speak Up Africa, these young people pledged to eradicate malaria and continue their fight to end the epidemic by 2030.
The African Union's target of a 40% reduction in malaria incidence and mortality by 2020, a critical step in eliminating malaria in Africa by 2030, has not been met. Indeed, WHO estimates indicate that 96% of malaria cases and 98% of malaria deaths worldwide occur in Africa. In 2020, 611,802 Africans died of malaria, 80% of whom were children under 5 years of age. In addition, revised WHO estimates in the World Malaria Report 2021 indicate that the number of malaria deaths was previously underestimated and that the burden is worse than previously thought. Malaria, although preventable and treatable, is responsible for up to $12 billion in lost productivity annually in Africa, significantly impeding economic growth and social progress.
As young people, malaria continues to plague our continent, claiming millions of lives. Despite recent progress, a child still dies of malaria every minute. The open letter is a call to action to decision makers because we, the youth, are convinced that malaria eradication is an achievable goal if we maintain decisive action.
Moses Kodah, Executive Director of Naye-Salone.
In response, the youth decided to take action. In this open letter, the youth call on African leaders to contribute to malaria eradication as part of the Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation. The letter calls on leaders to renew their commitment to keeping malaria high on national development agendas, mobilize additional resources (including from the domestic public and private sectors), empower communities, strengthen data and evidence-based governance, accelerate the rollout of new malaria interventions and products, actively engage young leaders, and rapidly deploy new tools to address the growing threats of insecticide and drug resistance.
Young people have the potential to end malaria for good. We have seen how young people can advocate, mobilize resources, participate, and lead the response to malaria at a time when the disease is threatening their bright future and stunting their development. Therefore, to make the right investments in malaria programs, research, and innovation and to tailor malaria interventions to save millions of lives, we must build youth ownership into the fight against this disease.
Dr. Corine Karema, Acting CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria
A decrease in funding would be disastrous for the global response, setting the stage for a sharp increase in malaria cases, and to make meaningful progress against the disease, increased funding is essential. That is why the open letter urges African leaders to fight for what matters and emphasizes the importance of a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in 2022, which aims to secure at least US$ 18 billion from world leaders to save 20 million lives and put the world back on track to eradicate HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund is critical to sustaining life-saving health and malaria services.
Because of the burden that women and girls continue to bear from diseases such as malaria, it is crucial that they are represented in decision-making spaces. " It is crucial to amplify the voices of young women and girls in key decision-making spaces, especially when it comes to our health and well-being. With active political participation of women and girls as well as financial support for women-led organizations, we will be the generation that can achieve the goal of ending malaria by 2030. I am fighting for what matters and will continue to do so until this epidemic is eliminated." Farida Tiemtore, President, Les Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Fund Essential Voices implemented by Speak Up Africa in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, with support from the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation.
Malaria is keeping young people, their future children and African economies from reaching their full potential, so we must all fight for what matters, and fight now.
On the occasion of International Youth Day, young people across the continent are calling upon their leaders for more sustained action, innovation, and funding to fight back against malaria. In an open letter, also supported by The RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Speak Up Africa, young people vow to be the generation to end malaria, and to not stop fighting until they end this disease as an epidemic by 2030.
The African Union goal of reducing malaria incidence and mortality by 40% by 2020, a key milestone to eliminating malaria in Africa by 2030, was missed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 96% of global malaria cases and 98% of malaria deaths occur on the continent. In 2020, 611,802 Africans died from this disease of which 80% were children under the age of 5. Furthermore, revised estimates by the WHO in the 2021 World Malaria Report indicate that the number of malaria deaths was previously underestimated, and the burden is worse than previously understood. Malaria is a driver for up to $12 billion in lost productivity in Africa annually, drastically impeding economic growth and societal progress despite it being preventable and treatable.
As young people we are concerned that Malaria continues to plague our continent taking millions of lives and despite recent progress, a child still dies from malaria every minute. The open letter is a call-to-action to decision makers because we, young people, believe that ending malaria is an attainable goal if we sustain decisive
Moses Kodah, Executive Director, Naye-Salone.
In response, young people have decided to take action. The open letter turns up the pressure on African leaders to achieve a malaria-free world in line with Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation. Calling on leaders to recommit to keeping malaria high on national development agendas, mobilize additional resources (especially from the domestic public and private sector), empower communities to act, strengthen data and evidence-based governance, accelerate the deployment of new malaria commodities and interventions, actively engage youth leaders and rapidly deploy the new tools to address the growing threats of insecticide and drug resistance.
Young people have the potential to end malaria for good. We have seen how young people can advocate, mobilize resources, participate in, and lead the malaria response as the disease threatens their bright future and holds back their development. That is why, to make the right investments in malaria programs, research, and innovation and tailor malaria interventions to save millions of lives, we must integrate youth ownership into the fight against malaria.
Dr. Corine Karema, Interim CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria
A decrease in financing would be dire for the global response, paving the way for a steep rise in malaria cases, and in order to make significant progress against the disease, an increase in financing is critical. This is why the open letter urges African Heads of States and Governments to fight for what counts and reinforces the importance of a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in 2022, which seeks to secure at least US$18 billion from global leaders to save 20 million lives and get the world back on track toward ending HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund is critical to sustaining life-saving malaria and health services.
Due to the burden that women and girls continue to bear as a result of diseases such as malaria, it is crucial that they are represented in decision making spaces. "It is crucial to amplify the voices of young women and girls in key decision-making spaces, especially when it comes to our health and well-being. With active political participation of women and girls and financial support for women-led organizations, we will be the generation that can achieve the goal of ending malaria by 2030. I am fighting for what matters and will continue to do so until this epidemic is eliminated." Farida Tiemtore, President, Les Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Essential Voices Fund implemented by Speak Up Africa in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, with the support of the Global Fund and the Fondation CHANEL.
The disease is stopping young people, their future children, and African economies from reaching their full potential, we therefore all must fight for what counts, and fight now.
It is time for action, financial commitments and a concerted response. With the 7th Replenishment Conference just weeks away, the Global Fund is sounding the alarm on the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.
Montreal - Ouagadougou - Dakar - More than 9,500 people have gathered in Montreal, Canada, from July 29 to August 2, 2022 to participate in and attend the 24th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, the first global platform for the response to the disease. Communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, policy makers, media, activists and civil society organizations are unanimous that progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS has stalled. Globally, the number of infections has stabilized at 1.5 million in 2021, the same number as in 2020. Who is to blame? The COVID-19 pandemic? Certainly, but even before it hit, the world was off track for HIV, TB, and malaria goals.
Progress in reducing the number of people newly infected with HIV is slowing. Between 2020 and 2021, the world saw the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. In 2021, women and girls accounted for the majority of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, and more than 3 in 4 new infections among young people are among adolescent girls and young women.
Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director
The need for action is urgent. To this end, and shortly after the opening ceremony of the HIV Conference, the Global Fund organized a satellite session on 29 July 2022 entitled "Fighting for What Matters: Maximizing Health Equity, Gender Equality and Human Rights in the Fight Against HIV". Opened by Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, the symposium looked at the results achieved after 20 years of scaling up the Fund's programs and interventions, as well as at remaining and emerging challenges. Two panels, moderated by Maelle Ba, Strategic Communications Manager at Speak Up Africa, highlighted successful partnerships and the importance of community leadership. Farida Tiemtore, a 23-year-old activist, President of Héroïnes du Faso and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLEs Fund, also joined the discussions on the first panel, "20 Years of Impact, What Worked and Why? ", online from her native Burkina: " Faced with the urgency of eradicating HIV/AIDS, Voix EssentiELLES in Burkina is fighting for what matters by raising awareness, informing, strengthening advocacy for better prevention and response of young girls and women to the disease and I am convinced that we will succeed in eliminating it by 2030." Launched in 2021 and with 35 community-based organizations led by women in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, the Voix EssentiELLEs initiative, implemented by Speak Up Africa in partnership with the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, aims to support and stimulate the impact of health policies and programs by ensuring the engagement of women and girls, in all their diversity, in decision-making spaces.
This initiative is in line with the Global Fund's new strategy "Fighting Pandemics and Building a Healthier, More Equitable World," which places people and communities at the heart of the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. In the second panel, "What are our next steps and how can we ensure we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?", Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi, reaffirmed the importance of a fully funded Global Fund:
The Global Fund invites us all to fight for what matters. I matter, you matter, young women matter. Now is the time to prove it. Funding the Global Fund is about showing that our lives matter. I hope that with significant funding, we can do more to address gender inequality, defend the rights of adolescent girls and young women, and ensure that girls are free of HIV.
Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi
In 2021, the increase in the number of people on HIV treatment was the lowest in more than a decade. Although three-quarters of all HIV-positive people have access to antiretroviral treatment, about 10 million do not, and only half of HIV-positive children have access to life-saving drugs. In the same year, the AIDS epidemic was responsible for an average of one death per minute, or 650,000 AIDS-related deaths, despite the availability of effective HIV treatment and tools to prevent, detect, and treat opportunistic infections.
In addition to Peter Sands, Farida Tiemtore and Grace Ngulube, the Global Fund also gathered the views, expertise and comments of Her Excellency Stéphanie Seydoux, France's Ambassador for Global Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, South Africa's Minister of Health, Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, Joshua Tabah, Director General of Health and Nutrition at Global Affairs Canada, Dr. Angeli Achrekar, Senior Deputy Coordinator at the US Global HIV Program, Javier Hourcade Bellocq from the Community Delegation to the Global Fund Board, and Lindsay Glassco, President of the Global Fund. Also present were Dr. Angeli Achrekar, Senior Deputy Coordinator, Global HIV Program, United States; Javier Hourcade Bellocq of the Global Fund Board Community Delegation; and Lindsay Glassco, President and CEO of Plan International Canada.
2022 is a pivotal year and marks a turning point in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. While communities have shown remarkable resilience and changed their programs to ensure that people living with HIV and key populations are not left behind, their commitment and determination has clearly demonstrated the need for sustained and increased support from the Global Fund. The Global Fund has also shown remarkable flexibility, moving quickly to help countries strengthen their health systems, access emergency inputs, respond to COVID-19, and adjust their HIV, TB, and malaria programs. The future is uncertain, but the goal is clear: the Global Fund must be fully funded, with at least $18 billion for the period 2023-2025.
Either we increase funding or we give up hope of ending these epidemics by 2030
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
The time is for action, financial commitments and a concerted response. A few weeks before its7th Replenishment Conference, the Global Fund is sounding the alarm in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Montreal - Ouagadougou - Dakar - More than 9,500 people met in Montreal, Canada, from July 29 to August 2, to attend the24th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, the first global platform in terms of disease response. Communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, policymakers, media, activists and civil society organizations are unanimous: the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS has stalled. Globally, the number of infections stabilized at 1.5 million in 2021, the same number as in 2020. But whose at fault? The COVID-19 pandemic? Certainly, but even before it hit, the world had already strayed from the trajectory of the HIV, TB and malaria targets.
Progress in reducing the number of people newly infected with HIV is slowing down. Between 2020 and 2021, the world has seen the smallest annual decline in new HIV infections since 2016. In 2021, women and girls accounted for the majority of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa and more than 3 in 4 new infections among young people concern adolescent girls and young women.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
We need to act, now. To this end, and shortly after the opening ceremony of the HIV Conference, the Global Fund organized a satellite session on July 29, 2022 entitled "Fighting for what counts: maximizing health equity, gender equality and human rights in the fight against HIV". Opened by Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, this symposium looked back on the results obtained after 20 years of scaling up the Fund's programs and interventions, but also on the remaining and emerging challenges. Two panels, moderated by Maelle Ba, Speak Up Africa's Strategic Communications Manager, highlighted successful partnerships but also the importance of community leadership. Farida Tiemtore, a 23-year-old young activist, President of "Les Héroïnes Faso" and recipient of the Voix EssentiELLES' Fund, remotely joined the first panel "20 years of impact, what worked and why?" : " Faced with the urgency of eradicating HIV/AIDS, the Voix EssentiELLEs of Burkina fight for what counts by raising awareness, informing, strengthening advocacy for better prevention and response of young girls and women facing the disease and I am convinced that we will end it by 2030. Launched in 2021 and strong of 35 community-based women-led organizations in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and in Senegal, the Voix EssentiELLEs initiative, implemented by Speak Up Africa in partnership with the Global Fund and the CHANEL Foundation, aims to support and stimulate the impact of health policies and programs by ensuring the commitment of women and girls, in all their diversity, in decision-making spaces.
This initiative is in line with the Global Fund's new strategy "Fighting pandemics and building a healthier and more equitable world," which puts people and communities at the heart of the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. During the second panel "What are our next steps and how can we ensure we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?" Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi reaffirmed the importance of a fully funded Global Fund:
The Global Fund invites us all to fight for what counts. I count, you count, young women count. Now is the time to prove it. Financing the Global Fund is showing that our lives are valued. I hope that with significant funding, we can do more to address gender inequalities, uphold the rights of adolescent girls and young women, and ensure that girls are free from HIV.
Grace Ngulube, Founder of Youth Health Connect 360 and HERVOICE Fund Ambassador for Malawi
In 2021, the increase in the number of people on HIV treatment was the lowest in more than a decade. Although three-quarters of all HIV-positive people have access to antiretroviral treatment, about 10 million others do not, and only half of HIV-positive children have access to life-saving drugs. In the same year, the AIDS epidemic was responsible for an average of one death per minute, or 650,000 AIDS deaths despite the existence of effective treatment for HIV and tools to prevent, detect and treat HIV infections.
Around Peter Sands, Farida Tiemtore and Grace Ngulube, the Global Fund brought together the opinions, expertise and comments of Her Excellency Stéphanie Seydoux, Ambassador for Global Health of France, Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Joshua Tabah, Director General of Health and Nutrition at Global Affairs of Canada Angeli Achrekar, Principal Deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Javier Hourcade Bellocq from the Communities Delegation of the Global Fund's Board and finally Lindsay Glassco, President and CEO of Plan International Canada.
2022 is a crucial year and marks a turning point in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. While communities have shown remarkable resilience and changed their programs to ensure that people living with HIV and key populations are not left behind, their commitment and determination has clearly shown how sustained and increased support from the Global Fund is needed. The Global Fund has also shown remarkable flexibility and moved quickly to help countries strengthen their health systems, access emergency supplies, respond to COVID-19 and adjust their HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis programs. The future is uncertain but the goal is clear: the Global Fund must be fully funded, with at least $18 billion for the period 2023-2025.
Either we increase funding or we give up hope of ending these epidemics by 2030
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund