More voices, greater impact: Voix EssentiELLES expands to Togo and Benin to amplify regional impact.

Voix EssentiELLES is an ambitious initiative coordinated by Speak Up Africa, with the valuable support of the CHANEL Foundation. Its aim is to amplify the voices and active participation of women and girls in decision-making spaces related to health and human rights.

The first phase, which concluded in 2024, successfully supported 38 community-based organizations in Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. These organizations carried out impactful advocacy and activities addressing key issues such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Launch of Phase 2 in Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire

Following a successful first phase, Voix EssentiELLES has launched its second phase with strategic workshops held in Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire in February 2025. These meetings provided beneficiary organizations with an opportunity to discuss the results achieved so far, review key recommendations from the evaluation of phase one, and collectively explore strategic directions to sustain and expand their impact.

Among the priority issues identified during these meetings were the importance of coordinated action through national networks, strengthening synergies between organizations, and enhancing collective mobilization to effectively influence public policies related to health and gender equity. New collective objectives were also defined, notably the need to intensify advocacy efforts to positively shape public policies in support of women and girls.

In Côte d’Ivoire, this momentum was further enhanced by complementary strategic visits. A meeting with Dr. Danielle Adjafi, Chair of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), provided an opportunity to discuss challenges related to coordinating civil society organizations (CSOs) and strengthening collaboration. Additionally, discussions with the head of the National Program to Combat Gender-Based Violence (PNLVBG) allowed for the exploration of collaboration opportunities with Voix EssentiELLES organizations around key events.

Voix EssentiELLES takes root in Togo and Benin

The project has reached a new milestone by expanding to Togo and Benin, welcoming 20 new beneficiary organizations (10 in each country). During meetings held in Lomé on March 6th and 7th, and in Cotonou on March 10th and 11th, these newly integrated organizations had the opportunity to discover the strategies and directions for the initiative’s second phase. These gatherings also facilitated the identification of strategic partnerships with institutional, local, and international stakeholders, strengthening a powerful dynamic for women’s inclusion in both countries.

With this expansion, Voix EssentiELLES reaffirms its commitment to empowering a new generation of women leaders who can actively participate in decision-making spaces and positively influence health policies and human rights across Francophone Africa.

Thanks to the collective dedication of our 60 beneficiary organizations and committed partners, this second phase aims to significantly amplify the initiative’s already tangible impact through 2027. Let’s continue working together to transform the future by enabling women and girls to fully participate in decisions that directly affect their lives.