In West Africa, adolescent girls and young women still face significant inequalities that hinder their access to reproductive health. Early marriage, unwanted pregnancies, and gender-based violence (GBV) remain major obstacles to their empowerment and the exercise of their fundamental rights. To address these challenges, the NGO RAES organized a regional workshop in Toubab Dialaw on January 27 and 28, 2026, bringing together civil society organizations, consortium members, and institutional stakeholders from Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire.

"That's life!": A strategic lever for change

At the heart of the issues is the strategic program "C'est la vie!" (That's Life!). Launched in 2012, this 360° communication initiative, implemented by the NGO RAES, aims to raise awareness among young people about reproductive, maternal, and child health while preventing gender-based violence. The opening session was attended by Dr. Moussa Diaw, Director General of Health for Sédhiou, who commended the program's alignment with national priorities for gender equality. For his part, Thierno Diop, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RAES, emphasized the importance of strengthening the links between advocacy and effective access to health services to maximize the impact of interventions.

An encouraging outcome despite persistent challenges

The first phase of the program has yielded generally positive results. Raby Sambe, the project manager, explains that this success is based on community outreach that has empowered young people aged 10 to 35 to make more responsible decisions about their health. Testimonials from locations such as Sédhiou, Niamey, Ouagadougou, and Abidjan confirm a significant improvement in awareness campaigns on the ground. However, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges, particularly due to persistent socio-cultural barriers, the isolation of some rural areas, and the need to disseminate messages in local languages.

Looking to the future: New priorities and actions on the ground

For the next phase, the NGO RAES and its partners intend to strengthen debate programs on community media and continue training on menstrual dignity to promote girls' continued schooling. Future plans also include developing messages in local languages in Niger, increasing advocacy with community leaders, and organizing awareness caravans combining grassroots communication and mobilization, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire. In closing, Thierno Diop reaffirmed RAES's commitment to pursuing this concerted effort to guarantee reproductive health rights in West Africa.