The European Union (EU) has made a commitment of more than €5 million to the joint United Nations (UN) regional programme, 2gether 4 SRHR, to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across East and Southern Africa.
The 2gether 4 SRHR programme - composed of UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO - will serve as a key implementing partner of one of the objectives of the ‘RAISE SRHR’ project. Funded by the EU, and coordinated by the Government of Sweden under the SRHR Hub under the AU-EU Partnership, the project focuses on strengthening accountability towards SRHR targets and commitments linked to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The investment comes at a critical time for the region, which faces inadequate access to family planning, uneven maternal mortality rates, and remains the region most affected by the HIV pandemic, despite recent progress. Over the years, efforts to advance SRHR have been hindered by factors - ranging from restrictive laws to harmful gender and social norms - with insufficient data and evidence undermining effective SRHR policy, decision-making and accountability.
In response, 2gether 4 SRHR’s contribution to the project, alongside implementing partners, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), will focus on the following areas:
Data Systems: Improved collection, management and use of strategic SRHR data to generate better evidence for policy, planning and investments.
Accountability: Strengthened accountability for SRHR commitments by supporting and expanding the role of Civil Society to monitor SRHR progress.
“On behalf of 2gether 4 SRHR, we extend our appreciation to the European Union for its commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights across East and Southern Africa. The investment in the generation and use of data to improve accountability for SRHR commitments is a key step to ensuring they become measurable, rights-based realities for every person in the region,” shares Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director for UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office.
“As a member state of the EU, Team Europe Initiatives play a vital role in driving development by bringing together the EU and its Member States around shared priorities — in this case, the SRHR Hub under the AU–EU Partnership. SRHR is an area that, now more than ever, requires sustained attention and resources. We therefore commend the European Union for its continued commitment to advancing SRHR in the region. Together with Germany and our partners, Sweden will work towards realizing the goals of the RAISE project,” says Elisabeth Hårleman, Head of Cooperation of Sweden’s regional SRHR team for Africa.
The project, running until 2028, is delivered in line with the EU’s commitments and in the context of the High-Level EU-AU health partnership that aims to support African Regional bodies to advance their realisation of health priorities and strengthen sustainable systems. The SRHR Hub under the AU-EU Partnership is an initiative among EU member states, launched in 2022, that aims to increase the coherence of EU funding for SRHR in Africa.
