Access 2 RH Supplies

Strengthening Advocacy Capacity and Leadership

Nineteen participants from twelve different countries in the Asia and the Pacific (Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Philippines, India, Nepal, China, Malaysia and Pakistan) gathered on August 6th and 7th in Bali, Indonesia to take part in a two day workshop to strengthen their capacity in advocacy and leadership on Reproductive Health (RH) Supplies prior to the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Indonesia (ICAAP) in August 2009.

Organized by the Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) for ICPD, Family Planning International, and the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) under Project RMA, the workshop was designed to contribute to efforts to strengthen the political and financial environment for access to RH Supplies in the Asia and Pacific Regions by supporting and fostering NGO leadership and strengthening NGO advocacy capacity for the 9th ICAAP. Other organizations, such as IPPF South Asia and Population Action International also provided technical assistance.

Through discussions and interactive role play, participants learned about the situation, needs and diversity of RH supply challenges in the Asia and Pacific Regions, improved their understanding of the linkages between reproductive health supplies and internationally agreed development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals and the role of RH supplies in achieving goals. Furthermore, participants strengthened their advocacy skills and developed key messages on meeting the reproductive health targets of the ICPD Programme of Action and the MDGs.

DSW presented the key findings of its regional mapping. Based on these facts and figures, the group started to discuss RH supplies issues in the region that need to be addressed. In working groups participants identified actions that need to be taken in order to create a supportive environment for supplies in the region. Subsequently, resources, such as the RH supplies advocacy toolkit and the RHInterchange, and opportunities, such as RHSC membership and international development goals review meetings, to address these issues were presented and discussed.

Three days after the workshop the participants applied their new skills and knowledge during the ICAAP.