The Countdown to 2030 initiative in collaboration with the West African Health Organization (WAHO), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNFPA and APHRC organized the first workshop to strengthen the analytical capacity for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health & Nutrition in West and Central African countries. It is the first activity of a regional collaboration that will coordinate activities related to monitoring SDG goals in the region.

The advanced analytical workshop was held in Saly, Senegal, from 26 to 30 March 2018. The specific aims were to conduct advanced analysis on RMNCH coverage and equity indicators at subnational and national level and to build the participants capacity to interpret the key results that could yield in policies. Representatives from all 15 countries in West Africa participated in the workshop together with 5 countries from Central Africa (total of 36 participants, including 20 from the Ministries of Health and 16 from public health institutions or academia). From the ICEH, Prof. Aluisio Barros and Inacio Crochemore coordinated the health equity sessions. A second workshop is expected by August 2018, and in the intermediate phase the participants will be responsible to collect useful and complementary information on each contextual and country health system facility data.