1. 2 Fore w ord
© Andrea Kuenzig
» Family planning is a human right. This means that all civil society groups, pledged 4.6 billion US Dollars
people should have the right to decide when and to support the rights of an additional 120 million
how many children they would like to have. However, women and girls in the world’s poorest countries to
this basic human right is denied to people in many access to family planning by 2020.
parts of the world. In fact, more than 220 million
The “Rio + 20” Summit in June 2012 also reaffirmed
women in low- and middle-income countries have
the important role that family planning and women’s
an unmet need for contraception. This often affects
rights play in sustainable development. Prior to
young people the hardest as complications during
the Summit, DSW came together with its All Party
pregnancy and childbirth are among the main causes
Parliamentary Group and other international organi-
of death for teenage girls. Teenage pregnancy also
sations to ensure that issues of family planning and
means the end of school or training for millions
population dynamics were considered. With success:
of young girls – forcing them into a vicious cycle of
the Summit’s final document contained a special
poverty and hardship.
section on “Health and Population”.
Recognising the need for action, the international
It is essential that governments from industrialised
community has placed the issue of family planning
and low- and middle-income countries uphold their
firmly back on the global agenda. In particular, the
commitments and maintain family planning as a
international family planning summit in July 2012
priority on their political agenda. To ensure that
was a tremendous milestone for women’s rights and
obligations have been fulfilled, DSW closely monitors
young people. Representatives from governments,
the progress of commitments made by the German
international organisations, the private sector, and

2. Fore word 3
“During my visits to partner churches in
Africa and Asia, women often tell me how
truly awful being pregnant can be when
Erhard Schreiber Renate Baehr
there isn’t enough to provide for the rest of
the family. Their one desire is freedom of
Government and other international donors, as well access to contraceptives so that they can
as national governments in low- and middle-income choose for themselves when and how many
countries.
children to have. DSW’s approach to
For more than twenty years DSW has sought to
ensure that family planning is recognised as a human these needs is vital in helping women take
right. Young people form the focus of this work. They control over their lives.”
are not only the parents of tomorrow but also the
key for the future development of their countries – Prof. Margot Kaessmann
investing in their health means investing in a better Ambassador for the Evangelical Church in
future. Germany for the Reformation Jubilee 2017 and
Member of DSW’s Advisory Board
In our youth clubs, young people learn from specially
trained peer educators how to prevent unwanted
pregnancies and better protect themselves from
becoming infected from HIV. This model is flexible
and changes according to the needs of our youth
target group. In this way, we combine learning about
sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
»
with a diverse range of other types of further edu-
cation and training programmes. In July 2011, for
example, we started the project “Working Together
for Decent Work in East Africa” in Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Contents
and Kenya, which aims at improving the lives of girls
and young women employed within the informal
sector by offering them new perspectives and the Foreword 2
possibility of a healthy and self-determined future.
About DSW 4
However, it’s not only our SRHR work with young
people that sets us apart. By applying an integrated
DSW’s International Work 6
DSW in the Field 6
project approach that brings together issues such
Highlights 7
as family planning, rainforest protection, and food
Ethiopia 8
security, DSW’s commitment and incredible success
Kenya 9
over the past twenty years have revealed solutions to
Tanzania 10
the global challenges of our time. In order to support
Uganda 11
the sustainability of our projects and ensure that
prospects for young people don’t diminish over Advocating for Change 12
time, we will continue to develop and intensify our … in the South 12
cooperation with local policy and decision-makers … at the International Level 14
in the places where we operate. … at the EU Level 16
None of this would have been possible without your DSW in Germany 18
support. We thank you sincerely for all the trust and
support you have shown us over the past year.
Balance Sheet 20
Networks 24
Thank You 25
DSW’s Bodies 26
Erhard Schreiber Renate Baehr
»
Chair, Board of Directors Executive Director
and Founder