Danida-SP-ToC12-SAHELRegional,Liberia,SL

West Africa (WA) and especially the Sahel sub-region, is confronted by both poverty and security threats, which can only be addressed through a strategic regional approach and transformational change. The latter will require working with youth enhancing their participation as active citizens. By 2025, more than half of the population in West Africa (WA) will be under the age of 25. These young women and men are the potential social change leaders and can either become drivers of inclusive and sustainable development in their societies, or marginalized and radicalized if not given space in decision-making fora, equal rights and access to resources, including quality education and employment. However, the space for civil society, especially for young women and men, is shrinking disturbingly and the region records the highest gender inequality rates in the world (UNDP Gender Inequality Index). Despite the adoption of legislation geared towards gender equality traditional practices, often patriarchal, and ignorance or lack of recognition of women’s Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) still prevail strongly in WA. Young women face a more restricted set of choices and opportunities than young men, preventing them from realizing their full potential. Access to quality education has long been recognized as a key component of tackling poverty, injustice and inequality, but WA remains an uneducated region. The major gains from the MDGs era are under threat and countries face new challenges related to SDG implementation. The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to overcoming the barriers to inclusion of marginalized young women and men as actors in their own right with specific needs, capabilities and rights, especially the right to quality public education and SRHR. It will build on the experiences from Oxfam IBIS’ own implementation and support to education in WA/Sahel; and the wider Oxfam’s work in WA/Sahel with youth programming and advocacy on education, gender justice, and SRHR in the “My Rights, My Voice” global programme.