Kingdom of Norway donates USD 4.76 million towards promoting sexual and reproductive health in Madagascar

Norway and UNFPA have signed a USD 4.76 million financing agreement for the implementation of a program to improve Madagascar's young sexual and reproductive health. The "Improving Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People in Madagascar" program will be undertaken from 2022 to 2025.

With this financing, adolescents and young adults will be able to exercise their rights to sexual and reproductive health information and services, including comprehensive sexuality education, leadership skills, and resilience.

The project's goal is to reduce adolescent pregnancy and maternal mortality while taking advantage of the demographic dividend. Furthermore, it aims to raise the proportion of young people who use modern contraceptive methods, allowing them to make healthier, more informed decisions and increasing their bodily autonomy."

This help will ensure that the most vulnerable people have access to the tools and resources they need not only to live healthier and more meaningful lives but also to reach their full potential." A healthy population is an important indicator and the cornerstone of long-term development. UNFPA thanks the Norwegian government for its continuous support for UNFPA's transformative outcomes and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. "We are cooperating to guarantee that no one gets left behind," said Koffi Kouame, Madagascar's Representative and Country Director for the Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius. This highlights the critical importance of comprehensive interventions for teenage reproductive health.

According to the 2018 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH), 75.1 percent of adolescents aged 15 to 19 and 76.7 percent of young adults aged 20 to 24 are poor and face discrimination, exclusion, and insufficient access to critical services such as health and education.

Between 2012 and 2021, the prevalence of modern contraception climbed from 33% to 43% in Madagascar. Despite this, many women and adolescents continue to lack access to contraception, and the national unmet need for family planning remains high, standing at 15% for women and 13% for adolescents.

One of Norway's development policy priorities, according to Andreas Danevad, Minister Counselor at the Norwegian Embassy in Antananarivo, is the preservation and promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights. "We hope that our contribution will raise adolescents' and young people's awareness of the need for family planning, helping them to make better decisions about their future," he said.