Get ready for an exciting read!
This final edition of 2024 delves into the impactful work of MenEngage Africa partners during the 16 Days of Activism. We also highlight our significant participation at the SVRI2024 Forum, some leading linking and learning initiatives between MIYP, Power To Youth, MenEngage, and SRHR4ALL programs for impact, and an insight into the successes of our recently concluded Research for Advocacy and Gender Transformative Approach training in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda.
You can also peruse a curated selection of the most insightful articles, incisive op-eds, and useful tools created by the MenEngage Africa secretariat, Sonke, and our esteemed partners. We conclude with insightful reflections from the MenEngage Africa Chair and Youth Chair, offering valuable perspectives on our collective achievements.
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MenEngage Africa joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign running from November 25th-the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10th-Human Rights Day. It was also an important year because it fell within the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a milestone global policy framework for advancing women's rights.
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MenEngage Africa and Sonke Gender Justice and partners convened at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative 2024 forum in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 22nd of October 20224 to host a parallel event under the theme: Reimagining Masculinities: Mobilizing Men and Boys to prevent Gender-Based Violence. The side event highlighted key contributions that MenEngage Africa has made toward violence prevention. This parallel event sought to strengthen strategies of partnering with men and boys, encouraging them to become steadfast allies in the quest for gender justice and the promotion of women's rights. Central to this mission is the urgent need to address and prevent sexual and gender-based violence , which remains a critical issue affecting millions across the continent.
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Young people now have enhanced understanding of different strategies for implementing and integrating meaningful and inclusive youth participation in programming. This is an outcome of the MIYP linki9ng and learning event organised by Sonke Gender Justice from 01-02 November in Lilongwe, Malawi. Most captivating were the milestones attained from implementing MIYP in communities. “We developed a creative and fun game called YEAHBOT. This is a game designed to give the right information to its audience and promote open discussion between boys and girls. We have the game in eight districts of Malawi and in youth clubs,’’ said Sheperd Hambeyani MenEngage youth participant.
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Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa, through the funding from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, NORAD, recently conducted a multi-country training for implementing partners of the SRHR4ALL project. Held from November 17th to 21st, 2024, the training equipped 18 partners in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Malawi with crucial skills in Research for Advocacy and Gender Transformative Approaches.
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The power of partnerships
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Gender transformative approaches, children’s rights, and positive parenting
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Article: Why US President-elect Donald Trump’s Policies Matter Globally
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Audio: Engaging Men and boys in the fight against and prevention of GBV
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End-of-year letter from MenEngage Africa
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Dear friends and colleagues,
As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support of MenEngage Africa. Your contributions have been instrumental in shaping a year of significant impact and progress.
This year, we witnessed a series of momentous events that have solidified our commitment to gender equality and social justice through capacity strengthening initiatives and participation at international advocacy spaces. We kicked off the year with a strong delegation at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) and conducted sessions which brought together policy makers in some of the MEA countries, thus strengthening our advocacy efforts. Furthermore, our participation at the AIDS Society Conference in Germany allowed us to amplify our voice on the global stage and advocate for policies that prioritize gender equality and health equity. We attended the Summit of the Future and as youthful chairs of MEA, we were encouraged to learn more about how meaningful and inclusive youth participation is used to promote human rights and gender equality.
We are proud to have successfully held the second installment of the MEA SRHR Symposium which brought together regional and international organizations, experts, activists, and policymakers to delve into critical issues surrounding sexual and reproductive health and rights
Our Capacity Strengthening Training equipped our network with essential tools and knowledge to effectively engage men and boys in promoting gender equality. Our flagship capacity strengthening initiative, MenEngage Africa Training Institute (MATI) held this year in partnership with WILPF continued to provide high-quality training programs, empowering individuals to become agents of change.
To demonstrate our commitment to governance and accountability, we conducted the MEA Annual General Meeting which was also a platform for country networks to share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and chart a course for the future.
None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors and partners. Your belief in our mission has enabled us to achieve remarkable results.
As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to our vision of a world where gender equality is a reality. We will continue to work tirelessly to engage men and boys, challenge harmful norms, and empower communities to create a more just and equitable future.
Thank you once again for your invaluable support. Happy holidays!
Sincerely,
MenEngage Africa Chair and Youth Wing Chair
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