Press release

Dakar, March 10^th 2017

On International Women’s Day, the Canadian Government, through its Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau and in the presence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced Canada is joining the Ouagadougou Partnership. She also announced an investment of $650 million over three years for sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world.

The Ouagadougou Partnership, whose goal is to accelerate the use of family planning services in 9 West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo, is very pleased to be included in this strong financial commitment that will consolidate its progress in the current acceleration phase. The objective of the Ouagadougou Partnership is to reach an additional 2.2 million modern contraceptive users by 2020.

According to the statement, « Canada will promote gender equality and empower women and girls around the world by addressing the gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights.”

Canada will specifically support the provision of “comprehensive sexuality education, strengthening reproductive health services, and investing in family planning and contraceptives”.

Prime Minister Trudeau said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates Canada’s leadership in empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality around the world. This investment will support millions of women and girls to have the opportunity to be leaders in their communities and lead healthy and productive lives.”

Dr Joannie BEWA, CEO of Young Beninese Leaders anInternational Development and La Francophonie Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau 

For International Development and La Francophonie Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau “Canada is committed to leading global action in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls. Women’s rights begin with the right for all women and adolescents to be in control of their bodies and make their own decisions. »

About the Ouagadougou Partnership

The Ouagadougou Partnership was launched at the Regional Conference on Population, Development and Family Planning held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in February 2011 by 9 Francophone West African countries, together with financial and technical partners, with the aim to accelerate progress of the use of family planning services in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

The Ouagadougou Partnership is based on two principles. It focuses on better donor coordination to maximize country support and also national and regional collaboration and cooperation to address the high unmet need for family planning.

The Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit (UCPO), based in Dakar, Senegal, facilitates communication between countries and current and potential donors, advocates for resource mobilization towards the member countries, helps monitor progress against OP objectives, and shares information between stakeholders of the Partnership and other audiences.

Media Contact

Marie Ba, Advocacy & External Relations Manager
Tel: (221) 33 869 70 29
Email: mba@intrahealth.org

Rodrigue Ngouana, Country Liaison Manager
Tel: (221) 33 869 74 70
Email: rngouana@intrahealth.org