Namibia selected to commence Brands on a Mission SRHR campaign
Namibia became the first of many countries to launch the Brands on a Mission Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Pan African campaign, led by Professor Myriam Sidibe and Dr Michel Sibide, who both arrived last week for a week’s engagement with key stakeholders to start a continuous platform for dialogue, networking and awareness.In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, the African Voices project harnesses a broad coalition of ‘African Voices’ to advocate for expanded sexual and reproductive rights and services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their approach involves breadth and depth: advocacy work that aims to expand education and access to SRHR across the continent and advocacy work to initiate conversations about SRHR in the three focus countries of Namibia, Niger and Cabo Verde.
Through uplifting African Voices, this project lays the foundation for impact on increased SRHR knowledge and reduced abortion-related stigma. Secondly, its focus is on couples, families, women and girls demanding better SRHR products and services.
With the aligned synergy between African Voices and Brands on a Mission, this campaign, which started in Namibia, was fruitful; managing to engage with all identified key role players that serve a common cause.
Wealth of experience
Led by Founder and Chief Mission Officer Professor Myriam Sidibé, Brands on a Mission possesses a wealth of experience bringing together corporate and government entities to place resources together that serve the same purpose.
Prof Sidibé, who has lived in 20 countries across four continents, has been able to observe and share a collective, holistic voice to the narrative of SRHR. During her tenure as Social Mission Director for Unilever’s Lifebuoy brand, she conceived and established Global Handwashing Day — now celebrated in over 100 countries. Her book, “Brands on a Mission: How to Achieve Social Impact and Business Growth Through Purpose”, was released in May 2020. She is one of the world's leading experts on brands that drive health outcomes through mass behavioural change.
“I am honoured to speak from first-hand experiences that I’ve seen and witnessed. Apart from the academic qualifications that I have obtained, I have managed to identify many gaps in various countries practically,” she said.
Prof Sidibe holds a doctorate in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and is an Engineer from McGill University, Loughborough University, UK. She is a member of the board of various organisations including AB InBev, Unilever, and MSI Reproductive Choices to mention a few.
Engagement
“During our week in Namibia, we met with stakeholders engaged in the Namibian SRHR movement. This included the First Lady of Namibia, members of the current and former government, civil society and the private sector. Our conversations touched on initiating, continuing and elevating conversations around the need for improved SRHR through public interviews and press events, combined with private discussions.”
They also discussed identifying how the African Voices project could support and uplift existing local SRHR movements and identifying organisations and influencers who will be part of a wider cross-continent coalition, mobilised around improving SRHR,” she said.
Dr Michel Sidibé accompanied Prof Sidibe on this trip and adds much experience and skills in the health fraternity. He is a former Country and Regional Support Director of UNAIDS, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations & Executive Director of UNAIDS, UNICEF Program Manager in DRC, and AU Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency. Named by Africa Report as one of the 50 Most Influential Africans, his ability to endorse this initiative has created more awareness around this campaign.
“Having been appointed African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency African Voices Project in line with the SDGs and Agenda 2063, the African Voice about history and relevance, this synergy was inevitable to take this initial concept to a global scale. I take pride in still actively visiting different countries to date, while still serving as the Minister of Health and Social Affairs in Mali. I look forward to the tangible results of what we are planting in Namibia today, to start conversations that will live even long after we may no longer be around.
“May we all participate in such projects to ensure a better and safer future for our children,” he encouraged.
Highlights during their visit included engagements with First Lady Monica Geingos, Ms Bience Gawanas, Hon. Yvonne Dauseb, Dr Bernard Shidute Haufiku, Voices for Choices and Rights Coalition (VCRC), Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) clinic, Namibia National Students Organization (NANSO), United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), UNAIDS, UNCT Namibia and local influencers. The purpose of their visit was to welcome various programs on the National Broadcaster, and more media initiatives are planned with their follow-up visit.
Local public relations agency, Poiyah Media looks forward to the follow-up visit which will focus much on telling the people’s story through film and documentaries. “We are thrilled to be associated with such brands and iconic individuals that have done so much already globally,” says founder Ilke Platt. “We are equally honoured that Namibia could be the first country of many to come, to be included in this very important discussion around SRHR. Through communication tools, initiatives can only be as successful as the platforms used to disseminate critical information for all to understand. I trust this is the beginning of a very important relationship and more information will be shared on the follow-up engagement with the Brands on a Mission Team.”
For more info, contact [email protected] or visit www.brandsonamission.com