UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office

07/01/2026

“I hid my pain because everyone around me said it was normal,” Olivia Albert, a 19-year-old survivor from Tarime, recalls.
“But deep down, I knew what I experienced was not something any girl should go through.”

Her healing began when she joined a community dialogue facilitated by UNFPA’s partners. Hearing other survivors speak openly helped her realise she was not alone and gave her the courage to speak as well.

Stories like Olivia’s remind us that change begins when silence is broken, and survivors are met with understanding, support, and care.

17/12/2025

🌍 Human rights are the heartbeat of change. Protecting dignity and choice is the foundation of a just, peaceful society. Read more on how we can protect dignity and human rights: https://unf.pa/3D8Bfy5

By Lydia Zigomo , Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa

27/10/2025

✨ JOIN OUR TEAM! ✨

We are looking for a dynamic Publications Consultant to join our East and Southern Africa team in Johannesburg, South Africa!

If you’re passionate about using your communication and design skills to make a difference, this is your chance.

Scan the QR code in the image or click the link the link in bio to apply.

Don’t wait, the deadline to apply is 11 November 2025.

Spread the word!

24/10/2025

Every day, 712 women die from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. The leading killer is postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), severe bleeding after birth. This is a devastating injustice because it is largely preventable.

We have proven medicines like oxytocin and tranexamic acid. We have life-saving devices. What we lack is the universal access caused by weak supply chains, outdated policies, and chronic underfunding. We are in a race against time, and every delay costs a life.

📢 Join us in demanding that leaders strengthen our health systems and invest in mothers.

🔗 https://esaro.unfpa.org/en/news/time-now-ending-leading-cause-maternal-death

13/10/2025

Creating a period-friendly world requires everyone's participation. The campaign actively includes men and boys in the conversation, transforming them from bystanders into allies. When boys understand menstruation is natural, they can help dismantle the shame and ridicule that harms their sisters and peers.

This is what building a supportive community looks like.

12/10/2025

We're excited to celebrate the incredible energy of girls leading change! 💫 Under the theme 'The girl I am, the change I lead,' East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) launched an intergenerational exchange to commemorate the . This initiative connects female leaders with young women to affirm girls’ potential, validate their dreams, and gather feedback to refine programs, particularly those related to sexual and reproductive health.

This exchange reconnected female leaders with their teenage aspirations, offering practical life and career advice, and demonstrating how intergenerational exchange empowers girls to embrace leadership. We connected with Thato Mosai, one of the amazing young women in this journey. Check out her inspiring reflection!

Watch 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJcaoiGEwpI

Embassy of the Netherlands in Mozambique Swiss Development & Cooperation UNFPA Safeguard Young People Programme Afriyan Eastern and Southern African Region - Afriyan ESA

Under the theme 'The girl I am, the change I lead', UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) launched an intergenerational exchange to commemor...

11/09/2025

The right to sexual health belongs to everyone
🌍 Sexual health is a universal right.

👤 It belongs to all people
🤝 It protects dignity and equality
⚖️ It is the foundation of health and justice

Let’s work together to make sure no one is left behind.

08/09/2025

Sexual justice means respecting every person’s body and autonomy
🗣️ What does sexual justice look like?

💪 Respecting bodily autonomy
🌈 Protecting rights across all identities
🕊️ Defending freedom of choice

Everyone deserves control over their own body.

31/08/2025

is a harmful practice that has devastating consequences on a girl’s life, particularly her health. Girls married as children are far more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including postpartum hemorrhage. Ending this practice is not just about protecting their rights; it’s about saving their lives.

Let's work to create a world where every girl can be a child, not a bride.

EU International Partnerships UNFPA SWEDD Africa World Health Organization African Region Fonds Muskoka Ecowas - Cedeao Unitaid WAHO - OOAS

30/08/2025

👩🏾‍⚕️The power to save a life often lies in the hands of a skilled . Their expertise is crucial in managing complications like Post-Partum Hemorrhage(PPH), but they cannot do it alone. We must work to support their role through policy change, robust training programs, and ensuring access to the resources they need to serve every woman, everywhere.

EU International Partnerships UNFPA SWEDD Africa World Health Organization African Region Fonds Muskoka Ecowas - Cedeao Unitaid WAHO - OOAS

28/08/2025

For millions of young people, crises like floods, droughts, and poverty don't just threaten their safety; they steal their dreams. Their futures, once filled with potential, can feel impossibly out of reach.

But hope is not lost.

Thanks to the support of partners like 한국국제협력단(Korea International Cooperation Agency), we're building safer places for young people to dream and grow. By providing access to education, essential healthcare, and secure safe spaces, we are also helping dreams become reality.