When resources dwindle, it’s women and girls who bear the heaviest burden, their health and dignity compromised. The progress made to advance women and girls' rights is undeniable; yet, we face an increasingly challenging landscape. As funding gaps widen for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, East and Southern Africa face drastic shortages of life-saving maternal healthcare, family planning, and protection from gender-based violence.
On this International Women’s Day, we reflect upon the changes the shrinking of resources and the reduction of the capacities to provide care will have. As UNFPA unwaveringly stands #withher, how will our stories change if we cannot provide much-needed support?
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Under siege, Goma is a dangerous place for anyone, but especially for pregnant women. Francine, slowed by contractions, was unable to evacuate her IDP site in time when bombs echoed through the camp. She knew she had to reach the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic before it was too late.
Francine give birth under fire, receiving vital support from the clinic. She and her daughter, Amani, survived. Today, 12,192 pregnant women live in displacement, their access to medical care uncertain. What will happen if these life-saving services can no longer reach them?
Ethiopia
Services that target women and girls in conflict contexts are fundamental to guarantee survivors vital support like counseling, HIV testing, and cash assistance. To rebuild, women and girls need support. In South Sudan, this support is stretched thin by the ongoing conflict. Sudanese refugees and Ethiopian women alike require essential services. Ensuring all survivors of conflict, including refugees, receive the vital support they need must remain part of our efforts.
This is the case of Amina, who, after experiencing sexual violence, found renewed strength in the Amhara Women’s Association. Through safe spaces she was empowered to share her story and ask for help. Yet, Amina herself reminds us of the fragility of the situation “... the ongoing conflict worries me and I am afraid women, including me, are at risk of more violence”.
For Kinana Mekol, a 33-year-old woman from South Sudan, the challenges were numerous. As a pregnant woman, she knew she needed regular medical checkups and support. As a refugee, she also sought safety and stability after witnessing the horrors of war. The MTI Clinic became her sanctuary. With services supported by UNFPA, she received essential antenatal care. Now, with her child safely in her arms, she wonders what might have happened if she hadn’t found this vital support.
This International Women's Day, let us acknowledge that the future we envision—a future of prosperity and peace for all—hinges on the empowerment of women and girls. They must be at the center of our solutions to the global challenges we face. We cannot allow shrinking resources and widening gaps to undermine their health, dignity, and potential. It is our collective responsibility to transform this landscape, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld, not just today, but every day.
