Message from Hind JALAL, Equatorial Guinea Resident Representative

I am thrilled to introduce UNFPA Equatorial Guinea (EG) second half-yearly 2024 Newsletter, as we embark upon our 8th Country Program, which began on January 1, 2024. This new program builds on our past achievements while addressing the challenges we have encountered with the aim to accelerate the unfinished business towards the three transformative results and the SDGs. While celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the ICPD agenda, together with the EG Government and our partners, we are leveraging on the accelerators to provide an effective response to the people we serve. It is my pleasure to share with you the main highlights of outstanding results achieved in 2024.

UNFPA is supporting crucial upcoming statistic operations, including DHS-II and the 2025 Census. In a significant step towards enhancing data-driven decision-making and development planning in the country, UNFPA established a coordination mechanism with the National Statistical Office (INEGE) in Malabo with the participation of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the Resident Coordinator (RC).  Equatorial Guinea CO built strong ties with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) who pledged support for the development of DHS-II.

To advocate for continuous commitment to the ICPD agenda, UNFPA supported the development of the Voluntary National Report that was submitted to the HLPF during the July session and supported the development of the 4^th UPR presented in November 2024 in Geneva.

In a landmark initiative to strengthen media capacity and promote informed public discourse on critical population and development issues, UNFPA, in partnership with ASOPGE Asociación de Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial, launched the first-ever Journalist Network on Population and Development.

Recognizing the vital role of community health workers in promoting health and well-being, UNFPA invests in the power of community voices. We strengthen the skills of 100 Community Workers from Ministry of Information who are vital in sharing information on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS & GBV prevention. This initiative, part of the ongoing Information Education and Communication IEC-Advocacy program, aims to strengthen community voices and ensure that essential health information reaches even the most remote areas of the country.

GBV prevention was strengthened, focusing on a powerful combination of research, theater, and poetry to raise awareness and engage with men and boys.

UNFPA CO trained midwives on the MISP “Minimum Initial Service Package” as part of the WCARO Leadership commitment in 2024. 97 midwives benefited from the training: 90 women and 9 men.

Our partnerships were diversified and strengthened with the French Cultural Center of Equatorial Guinea, SOS and FRS. MoUs were signed and enforced to promote youth empowerment and the prevention and elimination of GBV.

Significant progress was made by the M&E Group chaired by UNFPA in 2024. Achievements include the completion of the UNDAF 19-23 evaluation, the status of the 2023 results report, the inclusion of disability components in UNCT actions and the integrating gender, human rights, and QCPR markers into Joint Work Plans.

I express my most sincere gratitude to all our partners and look forward closely working with them in 2025 to transform the lives of women and young people in Equatorial Guinea to make a lasting impact and to leave no one behind.

At UNFPA, we use population data to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

With gratitude, Hind Jalal