News

The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023) taking place 17–20 July and brings together thousands of participants across the global, virtually and in-person in Kigali, Rwanda, to enable multisectoral collaboration advancing gender equality. 

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)’s engagement in WD2023 reaffirms its commitment to empowering women and girls across Africa. As a renowned African think tank, AFIDEP has consistently championed evidence-informed policymaking and programmatic action as well as cross-sectoral collaboration that improves the health, well-being and socio-economic status of women and girls. 

At Women Deliver, AFIDEP showcases its invaluable research, capacity building, and advocacy initiatives, shares best practices, and engages diverse stakeholders to catalyse evidence-informed action on critical issues concerning gender equality in Africa and beyond. 

During the 2023 conference, AFIDEP and cohosts, in plenaries and side events, will present evidence-based research on the dividends from investing in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and women’s economic empowerment. 

AFIDEP’s attendance at the Women Deliver Conference aligns with the organisation’s strategic vision of advancing policy solutions to address Africa’s development challenges. By prioritising women’s empowerment and gender equality, AFIDEP aims to create a future where every African girl and woman can unleash her full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. 

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) Project 

The ASHER project will officially be launched at the Women Deliver Conference. The project is part of the Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) initiative. Its aim is to identify positive outlier countries with a good trajectory in reducing adolescent fertility including prevention and management of unintended pregnancy. In the selected countries, it will also examine the policies and programmes that have advanced adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) and determine how the lessons learned and best practices can be applied to improve SRHR outcomes for adolescents across geographies. 

AFIDEP leads a consortium implementing the project, with partners from the universities of Southampton and Portsmouth, United Kingdom, and in collaboration with Gates Ventures (EGH). The countries selected for study are Cameroon, Ghana, Nepal, Malawi and Rwanda. In each country, the research is led by local institutions. 

Professor Nyovani Madise, Director of Development Policy and Dr Naa Dodoo, Senior Research & Policy Analyst are panellists at the event, speaking on “Future-Proofing Development: How Evidence-Based Decision-Making on ASRHR Can Protect the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents and Spur Economic Growth”. 

Time: 5:30 PM 

Date: 19 July 2023 

Venue: Simba Ballroom, Four Points by Sheraton 

The ASHER project launch is co-hosted by EGH and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health. 

At the preconference, Girls Deliver, AFIDEP, Plan International, UNICEF and FP2030 will host a round table discussion – “Adolescent Engagement and Programme Integration: The Services We Want Vs What We’ve Got. An Adolescent’s Tale of a Successful ASRHR Intervention”. 

Time: 10:50 AM – 12:05 PM 

Date: 16 July 2023 

Venue: Lemigo 1 

The event brings together stakeholders working with adolescents with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

Building Capacity for Integrated Family Planning/Reproductive Health and Population, Environment and Development Action (BUILD) Project 

SIDE EVENT: Cross-Sectoral Gender Transformative Solutions for Advancing Multiple Development Outcomes 

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) through the USAID-funded BUILD project, FP2030 and the Margaret Pyke Trust are cohosting a panel of seasoned policymakers and NGO leaders in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to discuss their experiences in multidisciplinary work.   

Presenters will discuss how they work across sectors, highlighting the interconnectedness of global crises in their work, such as the climate emergency, threats to reproductive health and rights, ecological collapse and food insecurity, all while centring gender. Cross-sectoral and systems thinking is crucial as we assess progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.  

Moderator: Clive Mutunga, Director, BUILD Project, AFIDEP  

Panellists:  

Hon. Winnie Masiko, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda  

Prof. Sosten Chiotha, Regional Director, Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Southern and Eastern Africa 

Ms Faith Bacon, Population-Environment-Development Advisor, PATH Foundation Philippines Inc. 

Ms Joanita Babirye, Co-Founder, Girls for Climate Action 

Mr Jostas Mwebembezi, Founder & Executive Director, Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy, Uganda 

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 AM 

Date: 18 July 2023 

Venue: Rubavu/Nyungwe/Akagera rooms, Kigali Marriot Hotel 

Clive Mutunga will be a panellist at a side event convened by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) 

GIRL CAPITAL AFRICA/RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PARTNER SIDE EVENT
Breaking the Silos: Partnerships for Integrated Programming for Underserved Adolescent Girls 

Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM  

Date: 19 July 2023  

Venue: Room: AD 10.1, Kigali Convention Centre 

Clive Mutunga and Dr Bernard Onyango, BUILD’s PED Director will be panellists at a WHO/IBP Network and Share-Net International preconference event. 

Thinking Outside the Docs: Non-Health Sector Linkages in Education, Economic Empowerment, Climate Change and Family Planning/Sexual and Reproductive Health 

Date: 16 July 2023 

Time: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Venue: Ubumwe Grand Hotel 

The one-day meeting consists of two technical panels, a co-creation workshop, and a networking reception.