Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has launched a comprehensive general and specialist healthcare programme in the East Wollega and West Wollega zones of Ethiopia’s Oromia region.

We aim to restore access to essential services for host communities and internally displaced people in hard-to-reach rural areas, while strengthening the capacity of key health facilities.

In these rural zones, limited movement of patients, staff and supplies – along with shortages of medicines and medical equipment, financial barriers and weak referral systems – have made it harder to deliver timely, quality healthcare. Some facilities have operated at reduced capacity or faced temporary interruptions. 

As a result, communities have experienced untreated illness, challenges in sustaining immunisation and maternal health services, a high burden of malaria along with a greater risk of disease outbreaks, and increased pressure on the health facilities that remain functional. 

Despite the scale of need, the presence of humanitarian organisations in these zones remains limited, leaving significant gaps in both general and specialist care.

“The area has unmet health needs,” said Dr Sigrid Lamberg, MSF country director in Ethiopia. “Communities often lack routine care, while referral facilities have had little support to strengthen infection control, staff capacity and essential services.”

“The limited presence of international organisations in this area has created significant and growing gaps in essential health services,” says Dr Lamberg. “These gaps mean that people often delay seeking care or travel long distances when they become ill.”

In response, we started running mobile clinics that bring healthcare directly to areas with limited access in East Wollega and West Wollega. These mobile teams provide outpatient consultations, routine nutrition assessments, health promotion activities, and essential medicines with a strong aim to reduce preventable deaths. In West Wollega, MSF is providing targeted specialist-level support to Begi hospital, which serves a larger catchment of approximately 1 million people.

Our team focuses on strengthening infection prevention and control systems and building the capacity of health workers. This support is being rolled out in phases, beginning with the maternity department, with the aim of gradually reinforcing broader hospital functions. 

In July, the first month of operations, the mobile clinics provided outpatient care and essential services to 4,243 people; during the same period, at Begi hospital’s maternity department, our team supported 137 deliveries in collaboration with hospital staff.

By combining outreach with support to a key referral facility, our activities seek to create a more continuous and resilient pathway of care. Throughout the implementation of the programme, MSF has been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Health, local health authorities, and local communities.

“Communities in East Wollega and West Wollega have faced prolonged disruptions to basic health services,” said Dr Lamberg. “Our goal is to reinforce the capacity of selected facilities and outreach services so that quality care can be delivered closer to the communities who need it most.”

“It’s a collaborative approach to ensure that our support strengthens existing health structures rather than creating parallel systems,” they conclude.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Source: APO

Across East and Southern Africa, governments, regional institutions and women’s rights advocates are driving a growing movement to tackle one of the continent’s most persistent challenges: violence against women and girls. At the same time, they are advancing a parallel agenda to strengthen care systems and social protection, recognizing that gender equality cannot be achieved without addressing both safety and economic security. ​

This momentum was on full display during a recent high-level UN Women mission to Namibia, where leaders gathered to advance support for the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) and shape regional discussions on care-responsive policies. The mission highlighted how efforts to end violence against women and girls are increasingly linked to investments in care systems, social protection and women’s economic empowerment. 

A landmark opportunity to strengthen protections for women and girls

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally, with significant social and economic consequences for individuals, families and communities. Across Africa, governments are increasingly recognizing the need for stronger legal frameworks, prevention measures and survivor-centered services.

The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls represents a major step forward in establishing a continent-wide framework to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. During the mission to Windhoek, Namibia signaled its commitment to advance national processes towards signing and ratifying the Convention, adding momentum to efforts to secure the 15 ratifications required for the treaty to enter into force. 

“Ending violence against women and girls requires not only strong laws but also strong political leadership and collective action,” said UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda. “The momentum we witnessed in Namibia demonstrates a growing commitment across Africa to accelerate implementation of the AU Convention and ensure that every woman and girl can live free from violence.” 

The Convention is expected to strengthen accountability, harmonize regional standards and encourage countries to invest in prevention, protection and survivor support services. Its advancement reflects a broader recognition that ending violence against women and girls is essential to achieving sustainable development, peace and inclusive economic growth. 

The care economy: An untapped driver of equality and growth

Alongside efforts to eliminate violence, African governments are placing increasing attention on the care economy, a sector that includes both paid and unpaid care work such as childcare, elder care, healthcare and domestic work.

Women and girls continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities, often limiting their opportunities for education, employment, leadership and economic participation. Investments in accessible, affordable and quality care services can help reduce these burdens while creating jobs and strengthening social protection systems.

This issue featured prominently during the Sixth African Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Social Development, Labour and Employment, where ministers adopted a landmark decision calling for the integration of care systems into national social protection frameworks through dedicated strategies, sustainable financing and gender-responsive budgeting. 

The decision aligns with UN Women’s advocacy to recognize, reduce, redistribute, reward and represent both paid and unpaid care work. By placing care at the center of development planning, governments can help create more inclusive economies while improving the wellbeing of families and communities. 

According to UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Director Anna Mutavati, the discussions highlighted the growing understanding that social and economic policies are deeply interconnected.

“A key takeaway from the STC was the recognition that social policy is economic policy. When governments invest in care systems and gender-responsive social protection, they are investing in resilience, productivity and inclusive growth,” said Mutavati. 

Connecting safety, care and women’s empowerment

Violence against women and girls and unequal care responsibilities are often mutually reinforcing challenges. Women experiencing violence frequently face economic insecurity, while excessive unpaid care work can limit access to education, employment and support services. Effective social protection and care systems can help reduce vulnerability, support survivors and strengthen women’s economic independence.

Across East and Southern Africa, governments, women’s organizations and development partners are therefore increasingly pursuing integrated approaches that address both protection and economic empowerment. These efforts include strengthening survivor services, expanding social protection, supporting community-based care models and promoting policies that enable women to participate fully in economic and public life.

The high-level mission to Namibia reinforced this approach by bringing together discussions on violence prevention, care systems and gender-responsive social protection, demonstrating how regional engagement can accelerate policy change and strengthen collaboration among Member States. 

Building momentum across Africa

The visit also underscored the importance of partnerships among UN Women, the African Union and Member States in turning continental commitments into concrete national action. As countries consider ratification of the AU Convention and advance reforms to strengthen care systems, regional cooperation will remain critical to sustaining momentum and sharing lessons across borders. 

“Regional engagement creates opportunities to turn continental commitments into national action,” said Doris Mpoumou, Representative of the UN Women African Union Liaison Office. “By working closely with Member States and the African Union, we can build the momentum needed to translate commitments into tangible results for women and girls.” 

As Africa advances efforts to end violence against women and girls while investing in care systems and gender-responsive social protection, the message emerging from Windhoek is clear: protecting women’s rights and valuing care work are not separate priorities. Together, they are essential building blocks for inclusive development, economic transformation and a future where all women and girls can live free from violence and realize their full potential. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO

On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, Ms Kevita Belani, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative for Southern Africa, met with Mr Barry Faure, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, where she formally presented her Letter of Credence.

Following the accreditation formalities, Minister Faure and Ms Belani discussed areas of opportunities for further cooperation between Seychelles and UNHCR. Particular attention was given to the potential for Seychelles to benefit from UNHCR’s expertise and capacity-building support, including in the development of a country-specific asylum strategy.

The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation in addressing development priorities and challenges that are of particular relevance to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Seychelles.

During her visit to Seychelles, Ms Belani is also scheduled to meet with representatives of non-governmental organisations to discuss the regional refugee situation in Southern Africa and explore opportunities to strengthen support for this vulnerable group of individuals.

Ms Belani, who is based in Pretoria covers Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

Across West and Central Africa, humanitarian crises are disrupting lives in profoundly unequal ways. For women and girls, conflict and displacement can bring heightened risks of violence, loss of livelihoods and barriers to services they depend on. This World Humanitarian Day, we look at five ways humanitarian workers and women-led organizations are responding, from protecting women at greater risk of violence to helping them rebuild their lives with dignity. 

1. By ensuring neglected crises do not mean neglected women and girls 

Humanitarian actors are often asked to “do more with less”. But as needs continue to grow and resources shrink, there comes a point when less simply means fewer women and girls can be reached with the protection and support they need.  

Nearly 55 million people across West and Central Africa are projected to face acute food insecurity this year, as crises across the Central Sahel, north-east Nigeria, the Central African Republic and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remain severely underfunded. 

In north-east Nigeria, women and children — particularly girls — account for approximately 83 per cent of people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to a UN Women evaluation, illustrating how protracted crises can disproportionately affect women and children. 

Globally, UN Women’s 2026 Beyond the Breaking Point report found that 84 per cent of women-led and women’s rights organizations surveyed are seeing more women and girls requiring support, while 88 per cent say their capacity falls below current needs. 

In underfunded and often overlooked crises, the needs, rights, and voices of women and girls are at heightened risk of being marginalized. On the front lines, UN Women’s humanitarian workers help ensure that gender equality and the priorities of women and girls remain central to humanitarian response efforts. 

2. By delivering protection that responds to the realities women and girls face 

Humanitarian crises deepen existing inequalities, exposing women and girls to greater risks of violence and exclusion from essential services. 

During the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, women and girls accounted for 53.4 per cent of laboratory-confirmed cases as of 7 June. Among adolescents, the disparity was even greater: girls represented more than 61 per cent of confirmed cases. 

“When facing Ebola, women and youth are the most exposed to rumors and misinformation, while women carry the heaviest burden as primary caregivers for the sick,” says Isabelle Pendeza, President of the Women’s Network of the Collective of Women’s Associations for Development (CAFD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

In north-east Nigeria, nearly 6 in 10 people in need of humanitarian assistance are women and girls. They also account for 55 per cent of people forced from their homes, according to a 2023 analysis by OCHA, UNFPA and UN Women across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. Displacement leaves women and girls facing needs for protection, health, livelihoods and support to rebuild their lives. 

In the Central African Republic, women and girls account for the overwhelming majority of reported gender-based violence cases, representing 96 per cent of the 42,846 cases recorded between 2023 and 2025. In Mali, the scale of need remains equally alarming, with 2.5 million people requiring support related to gender-based violence, while reported cases in parts of Timbuktu increased by 77 per cent in early 2026. 

Effective protection starts with understanding what women and girls face in a crisis. On the ground, UN Women humanitarian workers help bring those realities into the response, working with women’s organizations and communities to identify specific needs, protect rights and dignity, and ensure women have a voice in the decisions that affect them. 

3. By helping women rebuild their lives with dignity 

For women displaced by conflict, protection must go beyond reaching physical safety. It must guarantee the resources, opportunities, and sustained support they need to rebuild their lives with dignity, earn an income, develop new skills, and reclaim control over their future. Investing in their recovery is not only a humanitarian imperative; it is essential to advancing rights, resilience, and lasting peace. 

In Mali, H.Y. remembers doing whatever she could to provide for her children: 

“Before benefiting from the project’s funds, I used to wash clothes, pound millets and sell wild herbs just to take care of my children. Today, I recalled back my name in the community with a physical shelter. A shelter of dignity, a shelter of peace.” 

In conflict-affected areas of Cameroon, displaced women have also had to start over, away from their homes and the livelihoods they once relied on, sometimes after years away from education.  

Since 2019, thousands of women, including refugees, internally displaced women and returnees, have found a way back to learning through UN Women’s Second Chance Education programme, launched in Cameroon in collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF). Learning new skills and finding pathways to employment or entrepreneurship can help women earn an income again, provide for their families and rebuild with greater independence. 

For Ulrich Martial Bienvenu Sandy, Gender, Recovery and Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist at UN Women in the Central African Republic, this is what recovery should make possible: moving “from vulnerability to dignity, opportunity and leadership.”

4. By supporting women to prevent violence and build peace 

Across communities affected by conflict, women are helping prevent violence, resolve disputes and rebuild trust. Their participation can change how communities respond to conflict and how peace is built. 

Recently, thirty women’s organizations from Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the DRC, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger participated in a regional capacity-building workshop on women’s leadership and engagement in humanitarian action.  In addition, 205 women-led organizations in the DRC attended a session focused on the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, highlighting the critical importance of integrating gender perspectives into the response. 

In Tanganyika, women from Twa and Bantu communities helped bring the two communities together through Village Peace Committees and inclusive peace mechanisms, contributing to reduced violence against women and girls. 

As Bahimba Nyembo Théodore, Women, Peace and Security Project Officer and WPHF National Focal Point at UN Women DRC, explains: 

“Women and girls are not only victims. They are actors of peace and development, capable of transforming their communities when they are supported.” 

​​​5. By strengthening women-led organizations on the frontlines 

Women-led organizations connect women and girls to protection and essential services, including in communities where humanitarian access is limited. 

But shrinking resources are threatening their work. Globally, UN Women’s Beyond the Breaking Point report found that 77 per cent of surveyed women’s organizations have lost staff because of funding cuts, while 45 per cent have six months or less of operational funding remaining. 

In Mali, Sidi Lamine Dolo, Humanitarian Affairs Officer at UN Women, faces that gap every day: 

“The hardest part is seeing the scale of the needs while the resources available remain limited.” 

But the women he works with are central to the response: 

“Women and girls are not only beneficiaries of aid; they are also essential actors in humanitarian response and peacebuilding within their communities.” 

Where crises persist for years, protecting women and girls requires sustaining the local actors who can reach them and remain alongside their communities. 

Acting for Humanity means protecting those who protect others. ​

– on behalf of UN Women – Africa.