Africa: As Funding Shrinks, Africa's SRHR Movement Vows Not to Retreat

What the report says

In Mombasa, Kenya, advocates from across Africa are meeting for the MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium, known as PROGRESS 2026, amid concern that shrinking funding, tighter civic space and rising resistance to sexual and reproductive rights could slow hard-won gains. The three-day event, organized by Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa, brings together more than 250 participants, including policymakers, youth leaders, healthcare providers, researchers, civil society groups and community leaders.

AllAfrica reported that the gathering is centered on defending bodily autonomy and advancing sexual and reproductive justice at a time when activists say communities still face barriers to care, information and protection. Speakers pointed to challenges affecting adolescents, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities and others, along with problems such as uneven sexuality education, conservative policy shifts, climate pressures and technology-enabled gender-based violence.

Organizers used the symposium to argue for stronger solidarity rather than withdrawal. Sonke Gender Justice representatives said the movement must remain African-led, inclusive and youth-centered, and that progress should not depend only on plentiful resources. They also emphasized working with men and boys, linking feminist leadership, research, advocacy and community organizing, and sustaining rights-based efforts even as some programs face donor cuts or closures.

The event matters because it reflects a broader struggle over the future of sexual and reproductive health and rights on the continent. As a general background point, SRHR campaigns in Africa often depend on cross-border advocacy networks and external funding, making them especially vulnerable when political or financial support declines.