Improved Health of Women and Adolescent Girls in Situations of Vulnerability

Stories of Change invites you to discover how the IHWAG project transformed lives and communities through the voices of women and adolescents across the six implementing countries. This collection brings to life the results of the collaboration between PAHO and Canada, revealing both the human impact of the project and the collaborative, multidisciplinary technical work that made it possible. Each story also reflects the relevance of gender equity and cultural diversity approaches as key pillars for promoting more inclusive and sustainable change.

Improved Health of Women and Adolescent Girls in Situations of Vulnerability (IHWAG) is a project born from the partnership between the Government of Canada—through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)—and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with the goal of addressing challenges related to the health of women and adolescent girls in Latin America and the Caribbean.

With an investment of 15 million Canadian dollars and implemented between 2021 and 2025, this project achieved significant progress in promoting sexual and reproductive rights, as well as in strengthening health systems. Throughout its implementation, the IHWAG project generated tangible products, tools, and lessons learned focused on improving access to health services, promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and empowering women and adolescent girls in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, and Peru.

This initiative is aligned with the PAHO Strategic Plan, and the Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, addressing critical gaps in sexual and reproductive health, while also strengthening capacities at the regional, national and subnational levels to generate sustainable impacts.