WASHINGTON, CMC – Guyana is the lone Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country expected to continue benefiting from the renewed partnership between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The two organisations have renewed their partnership through a CAD$15 million (One CAD$= 0.72 cents) agreement to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and adolescent girls living in situations of vulnerability in six countries in the Region of the Americas.
The collaboration, which spans 2026–2030, builds on a long-standing alliance between PAHO and Canada.
Through the Closing the Gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights by Strengthening Health Systems for Women and Adolescent Girls (C-Gaps) project, the partnership will continue supporting efforts in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, and Peru.
Aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and PAHO’s Strategic Plan (2026-2031), the initiative focuses on strengthening service delivery, advancing women’s and girls’ leadership and agency, and promoting enabling environments for SRHH.
PAHO said that while countries in the Region of the Americas have improved coverage of services with a focus on primary health care, barriers to access persist, particularly among vulnerable populations.
It said addressing these gaps is essential to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all women and girls.
Guided by a gender equality and health equity strategy, the initiative prioritizes populations experiencing more than one form of discrimination and structural exclusion, including migrants, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women with disabilities.
It will address key challenges such as maternal and neonatal mortality, adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence, and access to contraception, while strengthening primary health care and generating evidence to inform regional action.
PAHO said this renewed agreement builds on a strong, results-driven partnership between PAHO and Global Affairs Canada. Previous joint initiatives—such as the Improved Health of Women and Adolescent Girls in Situations of Vulnerability Project—have strengthened health workforce capacity, supported the development of national protocols and policies, and empowered thousands of women and adolescent girls to engage in community decision-making on sexual and reproductive rights.
“The new investment reflects Canada’s sustained leadership in advancing gender equality and PAHO’s mandate to strengthen health systems across the Region. Together, the partnership will accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure that no woman or adolescent girl is left behind,” it added.
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