At the moment marks 10 years of a pioneering effort to advertise sexual well being and rights in Africa and South Asia. Due to AmplifyChange (www.AmplifyChange.org) -funded assist for native activists in key African nations, tens of millions now have higher entry to complete sexual and reproductive healthcare and data and may make choices about their our bodies and their relationships. Over the previous decade, AmplifyChange has invested considerably in grassroots organisations devoted to eliminating gender-based violence, together with sexual violence, feminine genital mutilation, and little one marriage. In Kenya, greater than £20.5 million has funded over 35 initiatives, with £5.7 million particularly concentrating on these essential points. South Africa has obtained over £15.4 million, together with £5.1 million for almost 20 initiatives. In Nigeria, £6.8 million has been granted, with virtually £2 million funding round 25 initiatives, whereas in Senegal, over £2.1 million has been allotted, together with £1.8 million for 9 focused initiatives.AmplifyChange has been the transformational automobile supported by governmental, basis, and private-sector donors. In partnership with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs Denmark, it right this moment celebrates its tenth-anniversary occasion at Eigtveds Pakhus in Copenhagen.
“The Authorities of Denmark was one of many founding donors that arrange AmplifyChange to assist locally-led teams to guide the work on Sexual and Reproductive Well being and Rights of their communities. Denmark has been a proud supporter ever since. AmplifyChange has lived as much as its formidable identify and introduced empowerment and life-altering adjustments to tens of millions of girls, women, and native communities over the past 10 years. We look ahead to persevering with the cooperation,” mentioned Denmark’s State Secretary for Improvement Cooperation Lotte Machon.
AmplifyChange has funded 775 civil society organisations within the final ten years, distributing over GBP 125 million in grants throughout 67 sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia nations. The organisation’s distinctive strategy focuses on delivering funds on to grassroots organisations, permitting for speedy response to neighborhood wants and environment friendly use of assets. Cameroon is one notable instance the place AmplifyChange has supported native teams like Attain Out Cameroon to handle pressing SRHR points worsened by ongoing battle throughout the nation, particularly for girls and women. By involving males and boys in shifting social norms, difficult poisonous masculinity, and decreasing gender-based violence, these initiatives create a community-driven strategy that helps rapid SRHR wants and builds lasting change in attitudes towards gender equality. As well as, AmplifyChange makes use of complete affect evaluation strategies to trace the effectiveness of its initiatives to make sure that every grant contributes to significant and sustainable progress in the important thing nations.
Local people assist has been important for initiatives like Dance Into Area (DIS), a performing arts group in Siaya, Kenya, the place Creative Director Onyango Ondiege makes use of “artivism” to advertise sexual and reproductive well being and rights (SRHR) for folks with disabilities. One member, Pamela Jura, a single mom of three, advocates for girls with disabilities by means of dance, tackling stigma and human rights violations. DIS’s “Breaking Boundaries” initiative equips people with modern dance expertise to lift consciousness of the challenges confronted by folks with disabilities whereas encouraging understanding and empathy to drive social change.
“Previously decade, AmplifyChange has confirmed the ability of native motion in addressing among the most urgent SRHR points worldwide,” mentioned Dr. Narmeen Hamid, Board Chair of AmplifyChange. “Our partnerships with neighborhood organisations are on the coronary heart of what we do, enabling native leaders to drive sustainable change and confront essential challenges that have an effect on well being and rights of their communities.”
AmplifyChange was launched in 2014 by Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark throughout a United Nations Normal Meeting session, marking the start of a motion devoted to bettering SRHR for underserved populations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. By means of focused funding and organisational strengthening, AmplifyChange has supported native organisations to sort out pressing points, together with gender-based violence, stigma, abortion entry, youth rights, and healthcare availability for all.
“AmplifyChange’s assist has allowed us to champion rights and well being for LGBTIQ communities in ways in which had been as soon as unimaginable,” mentioned Anne-Marie Manga, AmplifyChange Strategic Adviser for Cameroon. “Our work brings visibility and resilience to people who find themselves typically marginalised, and it emphasises that SRHR advocacy is about dignity, well being, and inclusivity for all.”
“With AmplifyChange’s partnership, we now have been in a position to develop our attain and deepen our affect, notably in underserved West African communities,” mentioned Sory Ibrahima Monekata, Ph.D., Grant Director of Dambe Funds Sahel in Mali. “Their assist has enabled us to implement important applications and to construct native capability, guaranteeing that our advocacy and providers are sustainable and rooted within the communities we serve.”
AmplifyChange’s Tenth-anniversary celebration coincides with the primary day of the worldwide “16 Days of Activism Towards Gender-Based mostly Violence,” a becoming event to replicate on the progress made and the work nonetheless to be performed. The organisation’s affect in advancing SRHR highlights shared values of well being fairness, dignity, and justice that resonate globally and particularly with communities all through Europe. AmplifyChange stays dedicated to broadening its assist and forging new partnerships to handle essential SRHR wants, constructing more healthy and extra resilient communities within the course of.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AmplifyChange.
Contacts:
For extra data, please contact:
communications@amplifychange.org
West Africa Media:
Anne Mireille
anne-mireille.nzouankeu@finnpartners.com
+237 657 816 993
East Africa Media:
Sharon Quntai
sharon.quntai@finnpartners.com
+254 728 224 952
About AmplifyChange:
AmplifyChange is a multi-donor problem fund devoted to advancing sexual and reproductive well being and rights (SRHR) by empowering native organisations throughout sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. AmplifyChange helps civil society advocacy and activist teams engaged on essentially the most uncared for and difficult SRHR points globally right this moment. By specializing in essential points equivalent to gender-based violence, stigma in opposition to sexual and gender minorities, abortion entry, youth rights, and healthcare entry for marginalised communities, AmplifyChange helps grassroots initiatives to make sure that assets attain communities most in want, selling a simply and inclusive world the place each particular person’s well being and rights are revered and guarded. AmplifyChange collaborates with FINN Companions to amplify its mission and successfully talk its international affect.