Across many parts of the world, young people face serious challenges in realising their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Each year, around 16 million adolescent girls aged 15–19 and 2.5 million girls under 16 give birth. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death among adolescent girls, with access to skilled care and quality health services often out of reach. Every day, an estimated 33,000 girls are forced into child, early, and forced marriage, and at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) — a practice with severe and lasting physical and mental health consequences. These issues are especially pressing in crisis-affected areas, where access to services is disrupted and the risk of gender-based violence increases.
Plan Ireland works to ensure that children, adolescents, and youth — in all their diversity — have the knowledge, confidence, and supportive environment needed to make informed decisions about their bodies, relationships, and futures. This means creating opportunities to challenge harmful gender norms, tackle stigma and discrimination, and open up access to essential SRHR information and services.
Supported by institutional donors such as Irish Aid and the European Union, as well as individual giving and child sponsorship, Plan Ireland promotes an integrated approach to SRHR across countries in West and Central Africa. Our programmes bring together education, health, and community engagement to ensure young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are supported alongside broader child protection and empowerment efforts.
This includes supporting the delivery of quality, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools and communities, teacher training, and working with parents, caregivers, and community leaders to foster open dialogue on sexual and reproductive health. Menstrual health is addressed through sensitisation sessions, safe and private WASH facilities in schools, and training on reusable menstrual kit production to reduce cost and environmental impact.
Our programmes actively connect young people to safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive health services. This involves strengthening referral pathways, ensuring adolescents — including those with disabilities — can access the SRHR care, maternal health, and support they need.
In our programming, communities are engaged to influence attitudes and practices that protect and promote the rights of girls and boys. This includes working with civil society organisations, government authorities and local leaders to promote positive role models, address harmful practices like FGM/C and child marriage, and ensure young people’s voices are heard in decision-making.
In humanitarian crises, Plan Ireland’s programmes focus on maintaining access to essential SRHR support. This includes providing dignity kits — containing menstrual health supplies and hygiene essentials — so women and girls can manage their health with safety and dignity. Programmes also support safe spaces and youth-led initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual violence, FGM/C, and child marriage, alongside community-based awareness to reduce stigma and ensure survivors can access confidential referrals and appropriate care.
