A Well-Deserved Sudanese Achievement: Al-Shafee Mohamed Ali Wins the Courage Award from the International Planned Parent| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan, (Sudanow) — The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), in collaboration with 134 organizations and countries, has awarded the Executive Director of the Sudanese Family Planning Association (SFPA), Al-Shafee Mohamed Ali, the prestigious IPPF Courage Award 2025. He was recognized under the category Courageous MA Staff Champion, one of the highest honors granted by the Federation to acknowledge the dedication of staff across its member associations worldwide.

This recognition crowns the tremendous efforts of the SFPA team across all its branches, including volunteers, youth, and service providers, who continue to ensure the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services in Sudan despite humanitarian challenges and extraordinary circumstances facing the country.

The award was officially presented to the Executive Director during the IPPF Courage Awards Ceremony held on 19 November 2025 in Bali, Indonesia, alongside the Federation’s General Assembly attended by representatives of member associations from across the globe.

Commenting on the honor, Al-Shafee Mohamed Ali stated: “This award is not a personal recognition, but rather an international acknowledgment of the courage and dedication of all SFPA staff who continue to fulfill their duties with sincerity under extremely difficult conditions, placing service to the community above all else.”
He added that the award reflects the association’s standing and role as one of the key components of IPPF’s global network.

This achievement represents a significant Sudanese milestone on the international stage and adds to the association’s record of advancing reproductive health services, empowering youth, and providing humanitarian support through its programs across Sudan’s states.

Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein Hassan, Assistant Executive Director of SFPA, spoke to Sudanow about the importance of the association, saying: The Sudanese Family Planning Association was established in 1965 by pioneering obstetrics and gynecology specialists in response to rising maternal and child mortality rates.
It was first registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare and later formally accredited by the Humanitarian Aid Commission.

Since 1972, SFPA has been a recognized member of IPPF and played a founding role in establishing the Arab World Regional Office of IPPF.

The association leads a nationally owned yet globally connected civil society movement that advocates for reproductive health rights and provides sexual and reproductive health services for all. It focuses on meeting unmet needs, particularly among vulnerable groups such as adolescents, youth, women, persons with disabilities, refugees, and internally displaced people.

SFPA ensures that all people in Sudan have access to quality sexual and reproductive health services without discrimination, delivered in line with international standards and tailored to the needs of target communities.

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