Rights and Innovations in Sexual and Reproductive Health in Kayes (Yellen)

Mali was experiencing a turbulent socio-political situation in 2020 when the project started. Several episodes of protests and strikes by different workers’ unions have disrupted the work of the government. A military coup was orchestrated on August 18, 2020, putting an end to these protests. Thus started an eighteen-month transition period, with the establishment of a government and transitional bodies. Under the new government, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP) became the Ministry of Health and Social Development (MSDS). The project also launched in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the temporary suspension of several government action plans and support programs, to the detriment of women’s and teenage girls’ health-related rights.

Objective

The ultimate goal of the project is to contribute to the transformation of unequal gender relations in matters of the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and teenage girls in seven districts of the Kayes region: Bafoulabé, Diéma, Nioro, Oussoubidiagna, Sagabari, Séféto and Yélimané.

Intervention

To achieve this ultimate outcome, the Yellen project is articulated around three complementary intermediate results:

1. Increased decision-making power for women and adolescent girls (15–19 year-old) over their SRHR, including family planning

The activities will mainly aim to remove the barriers affecting access to and demand for SRHR, especially in terms of education and access to information, geographic access, financial access, culture, gender inequalities and social acceptability. This will be achieved through training and awareness building within the communities and by strengthening women’s leadership, encouraging changes in behaviour and attitudes, including for men and teenage boys, and transforming the unequal relations between women and men.

2. Increased supply of quality services related to SRHR that meet the needs expressed by women and adolescent girls aged 15 to 19, including GBV-related care and family planning 

To achieve this result, we will improve the quality of services offered for SRH care, taking into account the needs of women and adolescent girls. This will be done by supporting healthcare providers to ensure access to a quality technical platform, sensitive to the specific needs of women and adolescent girls and respectful of their rights (reception, privacy, confidentiality). The project will rehabilitate current healthcare structures and support the improvement of equipment, materials and supplies to ensure a quality service offering.

3. Improved leadership of regional education academies, the Regional Health Direction (DRS), the Regional Social Development and Solidarity Economy Direction (DRDS-ES), the Regional Direction for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family (DRPFEF) and the districts’ management teams for the defence of sexual and reproductive health rights, the promotion of gender equality and the fight against gender-based violences.

For this outcome we will work at the regional and local levels with the qualified personnel of reference health centres (CSRéf) and community health centres (CSCom), as well as with the faculty members of high schools and vocational training centres, to build their communication skills on matters of sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality and GBV. This work will be done to ensure that stakeholders have the necessary knowledge and skills to communicate effectively on these issues, particularly with women and teenage girls, decision makers, key actors and the population in general. Mechanisms will be put in place to monitor, oversee and support the core groups of trainers.