A high-level panel of industry leaders and philanthropists convened during a side event at the 79th United Nations General Assembly to call for urgent action and innovative financing models to secure the future of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Africa.
With shifting geopolitical contexts and funding cuts in major donor countries, adolescent girls and young women are at increasing risk, making it imperative to advocate for new collaborations that can sustain SRHR infrastructure and services.
The panel emphasized that the international community must act now to safeguard the long-term future of SRHR for adolescent girls and young women, both in Africa and the diaspora. The proposed solution involves innovative financing models, including blended financing—a mixture of private and public funding sources—to alleviate the strain on overstretched governments. These models would also draw on private sector resources and commitments to fund essential SRHR services and infrastructure.
The panelists stressed that equitable, affordable, and efficient sexual and reproductive health services are not only crucial for the health and well-being of African individuals, families, and communities, but also beneficial for business growth, productivity, and sustainability.
The Urgent Need for Sustainable SRHR Financing
Co-hosted by Brands on a Mission (BoaM) and Tiko, the side event highlighted the alarming statistic that approximately 59% of SRHR financing in low- and middle-income countries comes from donors, while 41% comes from national governments. If donor funding decreases, the repercussions will be severe, particularly for adolescent girls and young women in the Global South.
SRHR intersects with key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators, including early and forced marriage, contraceptive use, maternal mortality, cervical cancer, and HIV infection rates.
According to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, inadequate SRHR services contribute to millions of unsafe abortions and 3,100 new HIV infections among adolescent girls in Sub-Saharan Africa every week. Nearly one in three women globally report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
Voices from the Panel
Namibia’s 3rd First Lady, HE Madame Monica Geingos, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the need for innovative partnerships that leverage social capital. “We need to figure out who has the social capital and how to translate it for impact—there are ways to create partnerships that bring private and philanthropic partners together with the government at the center for growth and scale,” she said.
Tiko’s Chief Impact Officer, Serah Malaba, warned that by 2030, African adolescent girls will comprise over 24% of the global youth population, making immediate action essential.
“The SRHR needs of adolescent girls are growing, against the backdrop of constrained fiscal space and competing public health challenges. Innovative financing models are required to ensure sustainable funding for SRHR, with interventions that remain girl-centered,” Malaba stated.
Dr. Michel Sidibé, African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency, highlighted the importance of placing Africans at the center of SRHR solutions. He stressed, “The real issue lies in funding and implementation, and it is essential that Africans are at the heart of developing these solutions. New financial models must not add another layer of complexity, and youth must be positioned as the drivers of change.”
Professor Myriam Sidibé, Founder and Chief Mission Officer at Brands on a Mission, closed the session by urging all sectors to collaborate in new ways. “We need to commit to moving beyond traditional boundaries and dare to collaborate in new and unexpected ways to develop platforms and coalitions that will allow private, public, and social sectors to join forces and scale up innovative financing models. This will secure the future of SRHR for African populations, especially women and girls,” Sidibé said.
The Future of SRHR in Africa: What’s Next?
The event was part of Brands on a Mission’s flagship program, African Voices, which aims to elevate the profile of SRHR among stakeholders across the continent. By engaging non-traditional players, such as social media influencers, and combining their influence with the expertise of NGOs and UN agencies, African Voices seeks to create a broad coalition for SRHR advocacy.
The call for innovative financing models comes at a critical juncture, as the future of SRHR in Africa—and the health and well-being of millions of adolescent girls and young women—hangs in the balance.
ENDS