A regional summit held in Nairobi gathered women’s rights groups and faith leaders to discuss reproductive health challenges across Africa, presenting new data on maternal deaths and service access.

A joint report by FEMNET and the Faith to Action Network shows sub‑Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths, translating to more than 202,000 preventable deaths each year.

The report also reveals that only 36.8% of married or partnered women in 27 surveyed African countries can independently decide on sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care.

Adolescent access to modern contraceptives is below 19%, while 20% of young girls face early childbearing or forced marriage before age 18.

Unsafe abortions contribute roughly seven percent of maternal deaths in the region, a figure compounded by restrictive and inconsistent national laws.

Participants warned that digital misinformation, online harassment and legal intimidation are increasing pressure on healthcare providers, human‑rights defenders and youth advocates.

The summit highlighted an anticipated $30 billion shortfall in global funding for reproductive health programmes, driven by shifting donor priorities and financing restrictions.

Delegates called for stronger collaboration between faith‑based organisations and women’s rights groups, urging communities to prioritise health access over stigma and discrimination.

South African delegate Rev. Seth Naicker stressed that protecting human life and dignity must precede broader moral debates, arguing that physical safety is a prerequisite for spiritual healing.

The emerging coalition proposed adolescent‑friendly spaces in faith‑owned clinics to improve counselling and voluntary family‑planning services.

It also recommended training traditional and cultural leaders on women’s legal rights and bolstering gender‑based violence protection mechanisms within customary courts.

Finally, the alliance urged African states that have not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol to do so, aligning with the African Union’s goal of universal ratification by 2028.