Ouagadougou Partnership Completed 15 Years of Operations
The regional initiative has significantly expanded reproductive health access across nine West African nations since 2011.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Sexual Health
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The Ouagadougou Partnership marked 15 years of operations since its February 2011 launch in Burkina Faso. Over this period, the nine-member coalition has worked to improve reproductive health services by implementing national family planning action plans.
Why it matters
The partnership demonstrates the efficacy of collective government and partner efforts in addressing maternal health outcomes. Prioritizing domestic financing is now essential to sustaining these gains as the initiative looks toward its 2030 goals.
The partnership has prevented 30.3 million unintended pregnancies and 8.9 million unsafe abortions across its member states. Additionally, 4 million women have gained access to modern contraceptive methods through these regional efforts.
The players
The Ouagadougou Partnership
This is a collaborative initiative across nine West African countries focused on expanding access to reproductive health services.
Côte d'Ivoire
This nation is a member of the partnership and has demonstrated significant commitment through increased national budget allocations for family planning.
The details
Member nations, including Benin, Senegal, and Niger, have utilized research projects led by local West African institutions to shape their health policies. Countries such as Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire have further supported these initiatives by providing family planning methods free of charge nationwide.
Timeline
The Ouagadougou Partnership officially launched in February 2011.
A regional research agenda was adopted by the partnership in 2022.
Côte d'Ivoire increased its national family planning budget in 2023.
The partnership aims to reach 13 million modern contraceptive users by 2030.
Health Landscape
This 15-year milestone follows the Ouagadougou Partnership research agenda by formalizing the use of data-driven policy to meet long-term reproductive health targets. The shift toward evidence-based solutions marks a critical evolution in how West African institutions manage population health programs.
Residents in member countries benefit from increased access to modern contraceptive methods and reproductive health services. In nations like Niger and Burkina Faso, these services are now provided free of charge, directly reducing financial barriers to essential healthcare.
The takeaway
The success of this partnership highlights how localized institutional research can drive significant improvements in maternal mortality outcomes. Sustained domestic investment remains the most critical factor for countries looking to maintain and scale these reproductive health successes.
What happens next
The partnership is working toward a target of 13 million users of modern contraceptive methods by 2030 and plans to reduce its reliance on external financing by that same year.
Further reading
For more information on regional reproductive health initiatives, visit our Sexual Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Realnews Magazine.
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