New three-year project launched on sexual and reproductive health and rights of LGBT people in Africa

Published on Thursday, 10 December 2015 11:50 During the last week of November 2015, UNDP and the Governments of Norway and Sweden signed an agreement for US$4.2 million for a three year project in Africa. The Project, titled “Strengthening Regional and National Legislative Environments for HIV/SRHR to support the Enjoyment of Human Rights of LGBT People and Women and Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa – Phase II”, follows the successful completion of its first phase during 2013-2015. During Phase II, the Project will focus more broadly on sexual and reproductive health and rights of LGBT populations in Africa, as reflected in the Government of Sweden’s new strategy in Africa, and focus on prevention of child marriage and sexual and gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation. The Project will support national governments in 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa over three years from 2016 to 2018. During Phase-II implementation, the Project will reflect on the recommendations from the Mid-term Evaluation of Phase-I of the Project, and emphasise national ownership and accountability in implementing countries; conduct political and cultural scans as well as legal audits/assessments; and help national governments to action plan for law and policy review. Capacity building support will be provided to national and regional groups from the judiciary, law enforcement and human rights institutions; and support provided to the African Union Commission and the regional economic entities to develop regional instruments like model laws to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights of the population. The Project will also prepare national case studies to show how countries enact policy and law review and change; and support countries to help identify and develop indicators for measuring human rights interventions.