Ipas Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (2026)

03/06/2026

Adolescent girls and young people with disabilities often face significant barriers in accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and services, including inaccessible information, stigma, discrimination, poverty, and unfriendly health facilities. Many are excluded from s*xuality education and lack access to information in accessible formats. Negative social attitudes and communication barriers with healthcare further limit their access to care, privacy, and informed decision-making. They are also at greater risk of s*xual and gender-based violence while facing challenges in accessing protection and support services.
As part of our strategic intervention, which among other approaches, focuses on building the capacity of stakeholders to provide and access SRH services and knowledge, we recently organized a basic SRH education training for adolescent girls and youth with disabilities under the age of 24 from a boarding school for the visually impaired in Sebata, Oromia. The training covered important topics including contraception, family planning, safe s*x, abortion, age-appropriate SRH information, and youth-friendly services.
During the session that brought together hundreds of youths and adolescents, the participants voiced the challenges they face every day, shared experiences and forwarded their questions about several matters of SRH. The sessions also provided them with the chance to reevaluate their misconceptions about their own s*xual health and rights as well as provide them with basic information on how to access the available services. The training is ultimately set to empower participants with knowledge, confidence, and skills to make informed decisions, protect themselves from violence, and access essential health services. In the long term, they contribute to improved health, greater independence, stronger self-esteem, and more inclusive and supportive communities.
As part of our commitment to leaving no one behind, we plan to further strengthen our support and training for young people with disabilities and enable them to work through the stigma and barriers they face every day to access basic services.

19/05/2026

To address the heightened risks of vulnerability and violence faced by marginalized young people, we recently conducted a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) training course in two youth centers, reaching 82 youth participants. The training increased awareness on different forms of gender-based violence, reporting mechanisms, available support services, and practical ways to prevent and respond to abuse. Beyond building knowledge the young participants left better equipped to protect themselves and support others within their communities. Moving forward, we aim to expand these trainings to reach more vulnerable youth, strengthen partnerships with youth centers and service providers, and promote sustained peer-led awareness and community engagement initiatives that contribute to safer and more inclusive communities. The training was provided as part of our strategic project.

12/05/2026

Over the past two months, we have been working extensively with government youth centers to provide basic SRH information sessions tailored for adolescents and youth with disabilities. Through these efforts, we reached a total of 450 young people, including 363 adolescents and youth with disabilities under the age of 24.
These sessions created more than just learning opportunities, they became safe spaces where young people could openly ask questions, share experiences, and discuss challenges affecting their s*xual and reproductive health and rights.
For many adolescents and youth with disabilities, accessing SRH services remains difficult. But beyond service access, obtaining accurate and appropriate information is also a major challenge. Limited access to inclusive information often leaves young people vulnerable to misinformation, stigma, and uninformed decision-making.
By intentionally reaching this underserved group with accessible and reliable SRH information, we are contributing to more informed choices, greater confidence, and improved wellbeing among adolescents and youth with disabilities.

08/05/2026

Creating inclusive and accessible s*xual and reproductive health (SRH) services requires more than awareness sessions — it requires meaningful engagement, participation, and empowerment.
As part of our strategic project to strengthen existing youth centers, we have been working closely with marginalized youth, including youth with disabilities, through a long and intentional process aimed at improving access to SRH information and services.
The journey began by providing basic SRH information on family planning (FP), safe s*x, teenage pregnancy, s*xually transmitted diseases (STDs), and safe abortion. However, we recognized that awareness alone is not enough. Many marginalized young people continue to face significant barriers when trying to access reproductive health services — from stigma and discrimination to lack of information and inaccessible services.
Once participants understood that reproductive health is their right, we encouraged them to identify and reflect on the challenges they face within their communities and health facilities. To strengthen their ability to advocate for themselves, we conducted advocacy skills and message crafting trainings, helping them build confidence to raise their voices and demand inclusive services.
Following this, we facilitated pre-interface meetings and community scorecard discussions involving both marginalized youth and health center representatives. This process created space for honest dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared accountability.
The interface meeting then brought together health care providers, marginalized youth as right holders, and duty bearers. During the meeting, the community scorecard findings were presented, youth participants shared their advocacy messages, and collective discussions led to the development of a concrete action plan aimed at improving inclusive SRH service delivery.
Importantly, the Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau committed to taking responsibility for the implementation of the agreed action points developed during the interface meeting.
This process reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that SRH services are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all young people — especially marginalized youth and youth with disabilities. True inclusion happens when young people are not only reached with information, but are also empowered to become their own advocates and voices for change.

06/05/2026

Last year, we developed a comprehensive training manual to strengthen inclusive service delivery and conducted a Training of Trainers- TOT for selected participants, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to lead this important work.
Building on that foundation, this year we moved into the next phase — cascading the training across four regions: Hawassa, Butajira, Arbaminch, and Jimma. Through this effort, we engaged healthcare providers, health center managers, and Regional Health Bureau (RHB) MCH department staff to promote more inclusive and equitable SRH services.
As a result, we reached 175 providers, managers, and RHB staff — strengthening capacity and reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.

10/03/2026

Last week at Ipas Ethiopia we celebrated women. In light of this year's international women's day we held a half day session at Ipas Ethiopia head quarters were we gathered to celebrate the women of Ipas and women every where. We discussed the every day challenges that women face as full time workers, highlighted the need for organizational policies that support families and empower women into leadership roles. we also had the honor of acknowledging and recognizing the women in our support staff who make sure that the our missions are carried out playing invaluable roles from behind the curtains.

04/03/2026

March 8 is more than a date. It’s a reminder of strength, resilience, and the work still ahead. Join us this week as we celebrate women, challenge inequality, and amplify voices, under this year's theme

09/02/2026

As part of our strategic commitment to intersectionality and disability inclusion, we recently conducted Disability-Inclusive Values Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) sessions to strengthen the delivery of inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.

These sessions supported healthcare providers to critically examine their personal values, biases, and assumptions related to disability and SRHR—fostering deeper self-awareness, empathy, and positive attitude change. Through this process, more than 84 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) directors were equipped with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity needed to deliver respectful, inclusive, and rights-based care.

By promoting dignity, autonomy, and human rights, the VCAT initiative contributes to advancing disability-inclusive SRHR services and safeguarding the rights of marginalized youth—particularly adolescents and young people living with disabilities.

04/02/2026

Strengthening Youth Safe Spaces through SRH Education

As part of efforts to strengthen existing youth safe spaces, we successfully delivered our first activity focused on basic Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education across three selected youth centers.
The two-day training reached over 130 marginalized young people who face intersecting vulnerabilities, providing accurate, age-appropriate SRH information through interactive and youth-friendly learning approaches.
The sessions covered essential SRH topics, including:
Puberty and menstruation
Safe s*xual practices and contraception
HIV and STI prevention
Comprehensive abortion information, including the legal framework in Ethiopia, the importance of accessing safe abortion care, post-abortion care, and addressing stigma, myths, and misinformation
The facilitation approach was participatory, using discussions, visual materials, and experience-sharing to create a safe, respectful environment where young people could openly ask questions and build knowledge without judgment.
This activity lays a strong foundation for informed youth participation within strengthened safe spaces and prepares young people for future peer-led advocacy and engagement, including promoting accurate SRH and abortion information within their communities.
Together, we remain committed to ensuring young people have the knowledge, confidence, and agency to make informed decisions about their s*xual and reproductive health and rights.

27/01/2026

Ipas Ethiopia, YeneHealth ink agreement for better reach and advancement of SRH services,

last week we signed a millstone agreement with the Ethiopian Femtech company delivering an end-to-end digital ecosystem for women’s healthcare,YeneHealth. The agreement aims to utilize yene health's technology-enabled outreach through its mobile application, Telegram bot, and SMS and voice-based platforms, delivering SRH education to women and girls. The SRH education, consultancy as well as referral linkage services to be provided through the digital platforms mainly focus on family planning, Gender based violence, and safe abortion information. As one of the biggest partners in the Ethiopian SRH sector and Supported by funding from the Government of Canada, Ipas, in addition to providing its financial and technical support, will leverage its 25+ years of expertise, documentations and knowledge in order to reach digital service seekers with the most reliable and stigma free SRH information.
During the signing ceremony held in Addis Ababa, Ipas Ethiopia Country Director Dr Demeke Desta stated "Even though access to SRH services including abortion, and SGBV have greatly improved over the past decades, stigma surrounding the services and lack of knowledge still hinders several women from being able to access the services at the right places which is why this partnerships such as this one are truly invaluable" highlighting the importance of digital platforms in reaching women and girls who hesitate to visit facilities for SRH services.

Ipas Ethiopia

03/06/2026

19/05/2026

12/05/2026

08/05/2026

06/05/2026

10/03/2026

04/03/2026

09/02/2026

04/02/2026

27/01/2026

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