Family planning in Francophone West Africa has made significant strides over the past 15 years, with millions of women gaining access to modern contraception and shaping their own futures. The Ouagadougou Partnership, a coalition of nine countries, has been instrumental in this progress, demonstrating the power of collective action and political will. Since 2011, the partnership has helped avert 30.3 million unintended pregnancies, 8.9 million unsafe abortions, and 1.8 million maternal deaths.
Despite these gains, the region still faces significant challenges, with one in four married women unable to meet their need for modern contraception. The Ouagadougou Partnership ministerial roundtable, held in New York on September 24, 2026, brought together stakeholders to discuss the next phase of the partnership. The meeting highlighted the need for sustained commitment, effective governance, and innovative financing approaches to ensure the long-term success of family planning initiatives.
The partnership's next phase will focus on integrating family planning into primary health care, strengthening community health, and pursuing innovative financing approaches. Countries will also learn from one another, sharing experiences and best practices to address common challenges. This approach will enable the partnership to adapt to changing circumstances, including the shifting health financing landscape in Africa.
The Ouagadougou Partnership has created a space for peer learning, mutual challenge, and accountability, allowing countries to connect health priorities, budget decisions, and results. The partnership's success lies in its ability to bring together countries around a common objective, strengthen national planning, and measure progress. As the region moves forward, this cooperation will be essential in addressing the complex challenges facing family planning.
A key challenge facing the partnership is the need to close the gap between current projections and the 2030 target of 13 million users of modern contraception. Projections indicate a gap of nearly three million, which must be addressed through a combination of increased access, improved service delivery, and enhanced financing. Countries will need to examine where women are still being left behind and why, and develop targeted strategies to address these disparities.
Effective governance and leadership will be critical in ensuring the success of family planning initiatives. This will require governments to make difficult choices, prioritize family planning, and ensure that resources are allocated effectively. The partnership will also need to engage with a broader range of stakeholders, including Ministries of Finance, the private sector, and civil society, to secure the necessary resources and support.
As the Ouagadougou Partnership charts its next course, it must balance the need for sustained progress with the reality of emerging challenges. The partnership's ability to adapt, innovate, and collaborate will be essential in addressing the complex issues facing family planning in Francophone West Africa. With continued commitment and cooperation, the partnership can help ensure that women and families have access to the services they need to thrive.
Key points
- The Ouagadougou Partnership aims to sustain progress in family planning, addressing emerging challenges and ensuring that women and families have access to essential services.
- The partnership will focus on integrating family planning into primary health care, strengthening community health, and pursuing innovative financing approaches.
- Countries will need to examine where women are still being left behind and develop targeted strategies to address disparities in access to modern contraception.
