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Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa Anna Karin Eneström and IOM’s Chief of Mission in South Africa Yitna Getachew sign agreement in Pretoria on March 19, 2026.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Swedish government have signed an agreement to boost safe, decent jobs and healthy environment for women in Southern Africa’s transport and logistics sector.
In a statement, both parties say the programme, which will be facilitated by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Seda) aims to link gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights responsive (SRHR) employment practices with labour mobility.
They say the region is home to major trade corridors linking Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe; however, many women still face barriers to formal employment, access to SRHR services and safe working conditions.
IOM’s Chief of Mission in South Africa, Yitna Getachew says, “As IOM, we are thrilled to see this initiative take off. It builds on the work that IOM has been doing under the SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders Project in the region.”
Getachew says, “IOM has a long history of collaboration with Sida dating as far back as 2004 during Phamsa (Partnership on HIV and Mobility in Southern Africa) and Phamesa (Partnership on Health and Mobility in East and Southern Africa) years and the work from these initiatives have informed global practice for IOM.”
Ambassador of Sweden to South Africa Anna Karin Eneström says, “This cooperation supports our commitment to SRHR and decent work and encourages public–private collaboration that can scale impact in a vital sector.”
The partnership will expand access to essential #SRHR services, HIV prevention and care, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support ensuring that women working within transport can access the health and services they need to thrive. pic.twitter.com/o1LtjBJKu3
— SwedenInSA (@SwedeninSA) March 16, 2026
