As we mark the second anniversary of the Nairobi Summit, stakeholders across the globe are firmly voicing their recommitment to the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. A landmark moment, in which various interest groups came together in partnership, recognizes the accelerated efforts needed to make progress in gender equality, youth, political and community leadership, and innovation and data. 

This reinvigorated engagement launched at a challenging time, as only months later, the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this period we have seen how crucial it is to immediately address various issues from the Summit, particularly in the realm of sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

The Wellbeing Foundation Africa prioritizes the most amplified issues from the summit; having a global impact that advocates for women, children and families, through empowering and educating frontline health workers while increasing accessibility to health care and proper hygiene. 

As a community stakeholder committed to the Summits re-emphasized themes, WBFA is committed to; zero unmet needs for family planning and services, zero preventable maternal and infant deaths, zero sexual and gender-based violence including early and forced marriage, as well as female genital mutilation. WBFA is doing so by advancing universal access to sexual and reproductive health, reinforcing the goal to end preventable maternal deaths by creating safe spaces, and empowering the younger generation to know their social, sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

WBFA is doing so through the implementation of various programs such as our Mamacare360 Community Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Education Program which reaches on average 3700 women per month across Nigeria and delivers improved health outcomes and empowerment through education for women to make informed health decisions. To date, the program has serviced over 200,000 women. WBFA’s Adolescent Skills and Drills PSHE WASH Program also promotes respectful rights and relationships, highlighting the need to end gender-based violence and harmful practices by providing safe space counselling and access to Sexual Assault Referral Centres which reach over 1000 adolescent girls, their educators and families each month. These are just a few of the many programs initiated by WBFA which reflect our commitment to ICPD 25. These measurable actions allow us to learn and reflect as an organization, but also on a global level as we work towards a gender-equal and healthy community across the globe.

As WBFA actively works towards exceeding our goals, we want to promise that we will, and encourage our counterparts to,  transparently report on progress made to fulfil these commitments. Open discourse and collaboration will be the only way to support one another and facilitate re-building back better from COVID-19 and reaching our longstanding goals. Accountability is key. WBFA also welcomes voices from all paths, as we need young and diverse perspectives in leadership to monitor the commitments made. This is our opportunity to build a stronger health system with a higher quality of care that is tailored to various groups. 

As the summit was non-binding, countries and stakeholders have a choice in choosing to support the Nairobi Statement in part, entirety or not at all. That is why emphasis needs to be put on the anniversary of the Nairobi summit, as meaningful follow-up and encouragement will ensure commitments remain in the forefront and can be done so in a timely and actionable manner. We are proud to witness and report on the progress that has been made, yet there are still millions of vulnerable women and girls around the globe waiting to see their promises be fulfilled. We must raise our voices and continue to march forward to create a systemic difference so equality and safety can prevail.