| Eastern
Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) Operationalizes
its 2008 – 2012 Strategic Plan |
| Date
: 14 March, 2008 |
|
|
It
will be recalled that soon after it’s founding
as a South-South Initiative to promote RH, Population
and Development, EARHN undertook to formulate its first
Strategic Plan in the year 2000 for the period 2001
– 2005.
With
changing global, regional and national RH environment,
EARHN sought to review its strategic directions in order
to align itself with the changing paradigm as well as
positioning itself to achieve the ICPD PoA and the MDGs.
In this regard, in December 2007, PPD ARO together with
the partners including DSW as well as Population Action
International and RH Supplies Coalition supported and
facilitated EARHN to develop a new Strategic Plan to
guide its work for the period 2008 – 2012.
A
Group Photo of Participants during workshop on operationalisation
of the Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN)
Strategic Plan, 2008 - 2012
Subsequently,
PPD ARO supported EARHN to hold a follow up meeting
on March 14, 2008 at Protea Hotel, Kampala, to review
the country specific work plans in the context of how
individual member countries would operationalize the
Strategic Plan. The meeting brought together representatives
from Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda.
Invitation was extended to South Africa to learn and
share experiences on what EARHN is doing as they prepare
to coordinate the establishment of a SADC based RH Advocacy
Network. Also present were representatives from DSW
Uganda and the media. Highlights of EARHN Strategic
Plan, member country 2008 Annual Work Plans and the
role of PPD ARO in regional networks were presented.
The
presentations generated a number of issues for discussion
and the following recommendations were made.
1.
Member countries would revise the work plans
and submit them to PPD Africa Regional Office. Rwanda
and Burundi were also to be contacted and requested
to develop 2008 work plans so that all countries get
to the same level of implementation of the EARHN Strategic
Plan.
2. Country specific newsletters would
be shared amongst member countries electronically
and the EARHN newsletter developed on a bi-annual
basis for information sharing. A specific theme will
be generated for each newsletter.
3. The country specific activities
would be hinged to the international declarations
such as the ICPD, MDGs and Maputo Plan of Action for
implementation at the local level. National declarations,
such as the country specific road maps to accelerate
the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and
mortality also be considered and PPD ARO support the
operationalisation of these road maps at country level.
4.
The job description of EARHN focal persons
be reviewed/adopted in consultation with the employing
agency and also nominate deputy focal persons for
all EARHN member countries to promote continuity.
5.
PPD ARO will commission a consultancy to
document best practices and lessons in reproductive
health, population and development in the region so
that countries start organizing and participating
in learning and experience sharing trips as well as
study visits and exchanges.
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