Regional Workshop in Senegal Strengthens Cross-Border Collaboration
From July 6 to 8, 2026, the African Network for Education and Health (RAES) convened a regional synergy-building workshop in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. The gathering brought together partner organizations from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Senegal to share experiences, strengthen collaborative ties, and develop synergies in implementing the network’s programs, according to a report from journalist Boureima Sanga.
RAES, a non-governmental organization focused on youth and adolescent health, states that it aligns its interventions with the national priorities of each country where it operates. This approach was a central theme of the workshop discussions.
Flagship Edutainment Program Reaches Fourth Season
The network’s flagship initiative is the “C’est la vie !” program, launched in 2012. The fourth season, which launched in 2026, is part of a regional campaign that will continue through the end of 2026. The program is described as a pan-African edutainment initiative based on a 360-degree communication strategy aimed at empowering youth and women in terms of rights and health. It combines a television series, digital and media campaigns, educational kits, and community activities to promote positive behaviors regarding sexual and reproductive health and gender equality.
RAES Program Officer Billy Fousseni Ouattara stated that the main objective is to encourage adolescents and young people—with a special focus on girls and young women aged 15 to 35—to adopt safer behaviors that respect sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights and gender equality. “This capacity-building aims to enable them to make informed choices and advocate for equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services and products in the intervention countries of Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Senegal,” he said.
Evidence-Based Communication Strategies
RAES implements several evidence-based communication approaches for social and behavior change (SBC). Dr. Mohamed Sangaré explained that designing behavior change messages must be grounded in empirical data, an analysis of the root causes of behaviors, and an understanding of the motivations and barriers target populations face in using health products and services. He noted that whether a behavior is adopted or not always results from multiple social, cultural, economic, or individual factors that must be identified before any intervention.
Digital Reach and Content Strategy
RAES primarily distributes its content on YouTube, where episodes of the “C’est la vie !” series are available, as well as on major social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. According to RAES Digital Manager Aïssatou Hane, the network’s editorial strategy is based on a split of 70% entertaining content and 30% content dedicated to communication for social and behavior change (SBC). The network currently has over 1,241,500 subscribers across all its digital platforms in the various intervention countries.
Embedding Health Interventions Within Broader Priorities
For RAES Executive Director Rabiatou Sangaré, the key is to make the network a genuine tool serving communities and authorities. “You know, in our region, the issue of security is now paramount for our populations. It is therefore essential to embed our interventions within these priorities. That is how we will best serve our communities,” she stated.
In the current context, she continued, it is crucial to adapt and anchor RAES’s strategies and actions within national, regional, and international priorities. “It is equally essential to adapt to the realities of our communities,” she concluded.
This article is based on reporting by Boureima Sanga, who filed from Dakar.
