04 March, 2010 Lisbon

Date of Establishment: March 2009, Joberg,S.A Founding members: 54 participants from 20 African countries + 7 other partners from other regions Governance Structure: - General Assembly – the founding members - SC 9 representing the 5 sub-regions of Africa - Advisory Board (31) + Coordination office -R Coordinator + 2 P/T +F/T staff- in Bamako/Mali

ICMA’s Catalytic role – The initiative was NOT because it was fashionable to create another RN but Compelling factors/enabling environment:  Unsafe abortion takes its greatest toll in Africa >30,000/yr (44% of global UA-related M deaths ) = 90/day  The inherent features of MA -as a breakthrough technology to address the incidence and consequences of UA particularly in low resource and legally restricted settings like Africa  Regional legal and policy frameworks: Protocol to the ACHPR on the RWA (2005), MPoA ( 2006)  The Global strategic frame works: ICPD PoA, MDGs  Hence: a regional response to a global challenge

Goal:  To contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa arising from unsafe abortion Overall Objective:  To provide a common platform to increase access to Medical Abortion in Africa

 Organised the Coordination Office  Developed  Terms of Reference for the RN  Plan of Action/strategies and Budget  the Network Logo  Prospectus (NOT yet printed)  Website (NOT yet launched)  Promoted ANMA /MA ( through regional and International Conference s)  Organised Sub-Regional Advocacy Workshop (DRC)  Conducted two bi-annual SC meetings

 Institutional development: New Coordination Office/Coordinator, Capacity building,  Finalising incomplete activities -web site, prospectus  Disseminating information in regional and international conferences  Identifying existing SRHRs Networks in Africa  Compiling and disseminating basic documents- on MA, Abortion laws/policies in Africa- thru the Web  Organising a sub-regional advocacy workshop & the SC meeting

 Broader recruitment and active engagement of members  Disseminating information on the major working languages used in the continent  Facilitating training on MA  Working with partners for registration of MA drugs  Forging alliance to advocate for change of laws/policies

 Global- With ICMA Guiding/Operating principles: ◦ Genuine partnership in the context of “affiliation” ◦ Appreciating regional specificities ◦ Complementarity (advancing a common agenda)  Inter-regional: learning and experience /information sharing opportunities  Intra-regional : utilising existing resources ◦ Materials-No need to reinvent the wheel! ◦ People (Advisory Board, Regional/National Trainers) ◦ Institutions/systems (MoH,…)