Faith to Action Network took part in the Réunion Annuelle du Partenariat Ouagadougou (RAPO) 2025, held from 16–18 December 2025 in Lomé, Togo. The convening brought together around 500 participants, including ministers, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, youth leaders, and development partners from nine West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
The Network was represented by Ayoko Bahun Wilson, Programmes Manager – West Africa, who engaged in sessions examining the role of faith actors in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender justice, and community engagement.
Recognizing Faith Leaders as Change Agents
Discussions during RAPO 2025 highlighted the growing recognition of religious leaders as key actors in addressing harmful social norms, strengthening community trust, and expanding access to rights-based health information and services. Participants emphasized that structured collaboration between faith-based networks and institutional actors is essential for achieving sustainable, community-driven impact.
At the same time, the convening underscored that faith actors remain insufficiently included in strategy development and high-level decision-making, with only a limited number of plenary sessions actively engaging them.
A Strong Call for Domestic Financing of SRHR
The central theme of RAPO 2025 underscored the urgent need for sustainable national financing for sexual and reproductive health rights and services. Participants agreed that heavy reliance on external funding is no longer viable, particularly in light of global aid reductions.
Key Strategic Recommendations
Participants proposed several actionable approaches, including:
- Expanding national budget lines for reproductive health and integrating SRHR into universal health coverage plans
- Exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as match-funding models that leverage national contributions
- Broadening stakeholder mobilization to include local governments, private sector actors, youth, civil society, and faith leaders
- Recognizing youth as a demographic asset and strengthening mechanisms to address their specific needs
- Ensuring the inclusion and participation of minority groups in SRHR policies and programs
- Increasing the involvement of faith actors in future planning and implementation processes
Progress Achieved and Risks Ahead
Since the Partnership’s launch in 2011, member states have recorded notable progress, including over four million additional users of modern contraception, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes. However, participants cautioned that these gains remain fragile, threatened by shrinking aid, fiscal constraints, and political or security challenges in several countries.
Centering Women and Youth
RAPO 2025 strongly emphasized that women and young people are both central to resilience and disproportionately affected by funding gaps. Strengthening services for these populations was framed as both an ethical responsibility and an economic necessity.
Conclusion
RAPO 2025 concluded with a clear consensus: West African countries must pivot from external aid towards stronger domestic financing for SRHR. This shift is essential for sovereignty, equity, and sustainable development and requires political will, innovative financing, and inclusive engagement of all societal actors including faith-based networks.
Faith to Action Network remains committed to advancing the meaningful participation of faith leaders in SRHR advocacy, financing, and policy dialogue across the region.
