Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa will convene regional policymakers, civil society leaders and development partners in Mombasa in August for a three-day symposium aimed at coordinating responses to mounting pressure on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across Africa.
The PROGRESS 2026 Learning and Exchange Symposium, scheduled for 12–14 August, is expected to draw about 300 participants, including youth advocates, healthcare providers, researchers, religious leaders and government representatives. The gathering follows a similar convening held in Nairobi in 2024.
Organisers say the meeting comes amid what they describe as a tightening civic environment for SRHR advocacy, alongside rising resistance to progressive reproductive health policies. They also cite inconsistent delivery of comprehensive sexuality education, persistent inequalities affecting women, adolescents, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI+ communities, and an uptick in technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
The context is further complicated, they add, by conservative policy shifts in parts of the region and increasing climate-related disruptions, which have strained health systems and social protection frameworks.
“The PROGRESS 2026 symposium marks a pivotal milestone in our collective mission to transition regional discourse into a cohesive, actionable framework for protecting the rights of marginalised populations,” said Ekenia Chifamba, co-chair of MenEngage Africa. “We aim to dismantle structural inequities that impede bodily autonomy and gender equity across the continent.”
The symposium is expected to focus on expanding access to SRHR services, reinforcing bodily autonomy and strengthening coordinated regional responses to opposition against reproductive health initiatives.
“PROGRESS 2026 provides an essential space to deepen collaboration, amplify youth voices, and drive transformative action that ensures no one is left behind,” said Jude Thaddeus Njikem, regional SRHR specialist at Sonke Gender Justice.
Participants are also expected to review emerging regional data on SRHR outcomes, identify policy gaps and develop recommendations for scaling interventions across member countries.
Sonke Gender Justice, a South Africa-based non-profit, works across the continent on gender equality and the reduction of violence against women and girls. MenEngage Africa is a regional network focused on engaging men and boys in advancing gender justice and reproductive rights.
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