Report on Ipas Initiatives in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Ipas has committed to transforming program design and delivery by integrating disability inclusion within sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. This report highlights the organization’s pledges in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Implementation of Disability-Inclusive SRHR Programs in the DRC

In the DRC, Ipas has evolved its approach from making services disability-sensitive to fully integrating disability inclusion to address inequalities in accessing abortion, contraception, and gender-based violence care. Collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) ensures co-creation, implementation, and monitoring of programs, enhancing policy influence and accountability.

DRC National Commitments Aligned with SDGs

1. Develop a policy advocacy strategy for disability-inclusive sexual health and rights under Universal Health Coverage by 2027 (SDG 3, SDG 10).
2. Measure and share the impact of current programs on women and girls with disabilities by 2026 (SDG 5, SDG 10).
3. Integrate disability-inclusive content into healthcare provider training curricula and disseminate new modules with government and civil society partners by 2027 (SDG 4, SDG 3).
4. Partner with Congolese OPDs to submit three donor proposals addressing access gaps, policy advocacy, and disability data across seven provinces (SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals).
5. Support two additional Ipas country teams in expanding disability-inclusive programs by 2027 (SDG 3, SDG 10).
6. Ensure inclusive hiring and working environments, and train 30 staff on disability-inclusive Values Clarification for Action and Transformation (VCAT) by 2026 (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10).

Advancing Disability Inclusion in Nigeria

Ipas Nigeria has shifted from a traditional support model to co-designing programmatic activities with disability rights organizations. This approach empowers partners to adopt sustainable strategies using the Ipas sustainable abortion ecosystem and social norms change tools, contributing to SDG 5 and SDG 10.

Nigeria National Commitments Supporting SDGs

• Co-design a new project with the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), self-care, and gender-based violence (SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
• Collaborate with OPDs to co-develop and implement proposals advancing SRHR and disability inclusion by 2030 (SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 10).
• Apply the Feminist Accessibility Protocol across all programs to cover costs for accessible participation and ensure inclusion from the outset (SDG 10, SDG 5).
• Support two additional Ipas nodes in integrating disability inclusion by 2027 (SDG 3, SDG 10).

Conclusion

Ipas’s commitments in Nigeria and the DRC demonstrate a strategic alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting inclusive health services, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. Through collaborative partnerships with OPDs and innovative program designs, Ipas is advancing disability-inclusive SRHR services, contributing to sustainable and equitable development.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), abortion, contraception, and gender-based violence care.
   • Universal Health Coverage and disability-inclusive health services.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Empowerment of women and girls, especially those with disabilities.
   • Addressing gender-based violence and promoting gender-sensitive health services.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Disability inclusion and breaking inequalities in access to care.
   • Inclusive hiring and working environments.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Collaborations with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and co-creation of programs.
   • Policy advocacy and donor proposals involving multiple stakeholders.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 3 Targets
   • 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information and education.
   • 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services.
2. SDG 5 Targets
   • 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private spheres.
   • 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
3. SDG 10 Targets
   • 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of disability.
4. SDG 17 Targets
   • 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
   • 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Measurement and sharing of program impact on women and girls with disabilities by 2026 (implies use of disaggregated data on disability and gender).
2. Development and dissemination of disability-inclusive training curricula and modules (could be measured by number of trainings conducted and participants trained).
3. Number of donor proposals submitted addressing access gaps, policy advocacy, and disability data (quantitative indicator of advocacy efforts).
4. Inclusive hiring and training of staff on disability-inclusive Values Clarification for Action and Transformation (VCAT) (measured by number of staff trained and inclusive workplace policies implemented).
5. Co-design and implementation of projects with OPDs, including the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (measured by number of projects co-designed and implemented).
6. Application of the Feminist Accessibility Protocol across programs (measured by accessibility compliance and participation rates).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ipas.org