Country Comments

Côte d’Ivoire, is blessed with exceptional biodiversity, vast mineral deposits and significant revenue from cocoa and other exports. Unfortunately the government has mismanaged its forests and as a result forest loss has increased more here than any other country in the world. Eight percent of the country’s protected areas have been deforested.

The country has been racked by civil conflict since the turn of the century, making human rights achievements including girls education and access to reproductive health difficult to prioritize.

Almost half the country’s citizens live in poverty. According to UNFPA, less than a third of girls between 15-19 are enrolled in secondary schools (2009-2019). Almost a third of all women (currently between ages 20-24) gave birth before the age of 18. Although the population level is currently sustainable, due to high fertility rates of over 4 ½ children per woman, the population is increasing by over 600,000 more people a year which will continue to add to the environmental pressures the country is experiencing.

Côte d’Ivoire recognizing these health and environmental challenges became part of the Ouagadougou Partnership, a coalition of government officials, religious leaders, civic and youth representatives of nine West African countries working in collaboration with donors to improve family planning outcomes in the region.