Ipas Ethiopia and YeneHealth have signed a new partnership agreement that aims to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls across Ethiopia. The initiative uses digital tools to reach people who often struggle to access accurate information and safe services due to distance, stigma or lack of awareness. By combining Ipas Ethiopia’s long-standing experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights with YeneHealth’s digital platforms, the partnership is expected to strengthen service delivery and improve health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations.
The agreement was signed last week in Addis Ababa and focuses on using YeneHealth’s mobile application, Telegram bot and SMS and voice-based platforms to deliver sexual and reproductive health education, consultation and referral services. The digital outreach will mainly cover family planning, gender-based violence and safe abortion information. The approach is designed to meet women and girls where they already are, on their phones and provide reliable, stigma-free information in a confidential way.
Supported by funding from the Government of Canada, Ipas Ethiopia will provide both financial and technical support to the initiative. The organization will also draw on more than 25 years of experience, research and documentation in the sexual and reproductive health sector. This knowledge will help ensure that the information shared through YeneHealth’s platforms is accurate, rights-based and aligned with national health priorities.
Using Digital Platforms to Reach Women Where They Are
One of the key strengths of this partnership is its focus on digital access. In many parts of Ethiopia, women and girls face social pressure or fear judgment when seeking sexual and reproductive health services. Digital platforms offer a private alternative that can reduce these barriers.
During the signing ceremony, Ipas Ethiopia Country Director Dr Demeke Desta emphasized this point. He said, “Even though access to SRH services including abortion and SGBV have greatly improved over the past decades, stigma surrounding the services and lack of knowledge still hinders several women from being able to access the services at the right places which is why this partnerships such as this one are truly invaluable.”
He further noted that the partnership enables Ipas Ethiopia to reach women and girls who are afraid or unable to visit health facilities for consultation and care. By providing education and referrals through mobile and messaging platforms, the initiative helps guide users to trusted services while protecting their privacy.
YeneHealth’s digital ecosystem is designed with cultural sensitivity in mind. Its period and pregnancy tracking and telehealth app allows women to confidentially access health information, book virtual consultations with verified health professionals and purchase pharmaceutical products with discreet delivery. The company also uses AI and data analytics to better understand user needs and improve service delivery. Through this partnership, these tools will now carry more comprehensive sexual and reproductive health content backed by Ipas Ethiopia’s expertise.
Building a Stronger Ecosystem for Women’s Health
Both partners see the agreement as more than a technology project. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen the ecosystem that supports women’s health, autonomy and dignity in Ethiopia.
YeneHealth Founder and CEO Kidist Tesfaye highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving real impact. She said, “Women’s health doesn’t move forward through intention alone, it moves through aligned partnerships. Proud of what YeneHealth × Ipas Ethiopia represents: evidence-based SRH, local innovation and systems that are bold to pioneer the future of digital health and actually reach women wherever they are. This is how impact scales and I’m excited to expand our work.”
She also described the partnership as a critical step toward expanding access to trusted information and services. “This partnership represents a critical step toward expanding access to trusted, rights-based sexual and reproductive health information and services,” said Kidist Tesfaye. “By combining Ipas’s global expertise in SRHR with YeneHealth’s digital platforms and local reach, we are strengthening the ecosystem that supports women’s health, autonomy and dignity.”
Ipas Ethiopia brings deep experience from years of working closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners. The organization has helped establish sexual and reproductive health services and networks that connect women with care across the country. Its programs include training and supporting health clinics with supplies, supporting university students who act as peer educators and educating communities on how and where to access contraception and safe abortion services.
Since 2010, following research that showed a high number of deaths from unsafe abortion, particularly in the second trimester, Ipas Ethiopia has also worked with the Ministry of Health to introduce medical abortion services for women at or after 13 weeks of pregnancy in major states and regions.
By linking this experience with YeneHealth’s digital platforms, the new partnership aims to close information gaps and reduce stigma. The goal is to ensure that more women and girls can make informed decisions about their bodies and access care safely and on time. As Ethiopia continues to expand its health system, initiatives like this show how digital innovation and trusted partnerships can play a practical role in improving access and outcomes for women’s health.
