1. Beyond - Rethinking strategies and partnerships to move the SRHR agenda forward: An International Expert Meeting organized by the Nordic Countries,
Oslo, Norway,
12-13 November 2009

2. THE ROLE OF AU COMMISSION AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
IN PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO SRHR THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION AND THE OUTCOMES
BY DR KEBEDE KASSA,
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AFFAIRS,
AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

3. INTRODUCTION: THE MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION
“Sexual and reproductive health problems account for one third of the total health burden among women and are a leading driver of poverty. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is increasingly young and female”

4. 1. INTRODUCTION: THE MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION (Cont)
WHAT CAN BE DONE WHERE THERE IS POLITICAL WILL
POLITICAL WILL, A SCARECE COMMODITY
EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN AVAILABLE
AFRICAN LEADERS, EXEMPLARY ON SRHR
AFRICA: FIRST CONTINENT TO ARRIVE AT MAJORITY CONSENSUS ON A POLICY AND PLAN OF ACTION FOR SRHR

5. I. INTRODUCTION: THE MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION
A TOOL FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE CONTINENTAL POLICY FRAMEORK ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR, 2005);
DERIVED FROM EXISTING CONTINENTAL/INTL LEGAL FRAMEORKS:
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
THE AFRICAN PROTOCOL ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES/ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN;

6. THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)
THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD;
THE ICPAD/POAS
THE MDGS
THE CONSTITUTIVE ACT OF THE AFRICAN UNION
THE VISION, MISSION, AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OF THE AU
THE SOLEMN DECLARATION OF THE AU ON WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY;

7. II. The SRHR Policy formulation process, grounded on:
Strong partnership
Bottom up – participatory approach
Factual/empirical Information
Determined, and open-minded leadership

8. III. OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICY FRAMEWORK
To Harmonise National Strategies for Prioritizing SRHR in Health Care Services;
To Accelerate the Achievement of Health-Related MDGS;
To Contribute to equitable, just and sustainable development in Africa

9. Increasing resources for SRHR Programmes
IV. KEY COMPONENTS OF THE POLICY:
Increasing resources for SRHR Programmes
Translating ICPD commitments into policies and programmes of action
Integration of SRHR, HIV/AIDS, etc

10. IV. KEY COMPONENTS (CONT):
Reducing maternal mortality
Reducing under-five mortality below two-thirds by 2015
Addressing the SRHR needs of young people
Combating HIV/AIDS

11. Reducing levels of unsafe abortion Promoting Gender Equality
IV. KEY COMPONENTS (CONT):
Reducing levels of unsafe abortion
Promoting Gender Equality
Fight against Gender-based violence
Promoting partnership at all levels

12. V. OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION:
The ultimate goal of the Maputo Plan of Action is for African Governments, civil society, the private sector and all development partners to join forces and redouble efforts, so that together the effective implementation of the continental policy including universal access to sexual and reproductive health by 2015 in all countries in Africa can be achieved.

13. VI. Key Strategies:
Integrating STI/HIV/AIDS, and SRHR programmes and services, to maximize the effectiveness of resource utilization and to attain complimentarity of the two strategies;
Repositioning family planning as an essential part of the attainment of health MDGs;
Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and youth as a key SRH component;
Addressing unsafe abortion;

14. child survival, maternal, newborn and child health.
VI. Key Strategies (Cont):
child survival, maternal, newborn and child health.
African and south-north/south-south co-operation for the attainment of ICPD and MDG goals in Africa

15. VI. Key Strategies: crosscutting issues to:
Increase domestic resources for sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Include males as an essential partner of SRHR programmes;
Adopt a multi-sectoral approach to SRHR;
Foster community involvement and participation;

16. VI. Key Strategies: crosscutting issues:
Strengthen SRH commodity security with emphasis on family planning and emergency obstetric care and referral;
Put in place operational research for evidence- based action and effective monitoring tools to track progress made on the implementation of this Plan of Action;
Integration of nutrition in STI/HIV/AIDS, and SRHR especially for pregnant women, and children by incorporating nutrition in the school curriculum;

17. VI. Key Strategies: crosscutting issues to:
Involvement of families and communities;
Involvement of the Ministries of Health in conflict resolution;
Rural-urban service delivery equity

18. VII. ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS
A. The African Union:
advocacy harmonisation of policies and strategies.
resources mobilisation,
monitoring and evaluation, and
dissemination of best practices

19. B. Regional Economic Communities
provide technical support to Member countries including training in the area of reproductive health,
advocate for increased resources for sexual and reproductive health,
harmonise the implementation of national Action Plans,
monitor progress, identify and share best practices.

20. C. Member States
adapt/adopt and implement the Action Plan for the operationalisation of the Continental SRHR Policy Framework;
put in place advocacy, resource mobilisation and budgetary provision as a demonstration of ownership and monitoring and evaluation
invite civil society and the private sector to participate in national programs.

21. D. Partners
In line with the Paris principles multi-lateral and bi-lateral organizations; international and national civil society organizations and other development partners will align their financial and technical assistance and cooperation plans with national and regional needs and priorities for implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action

22. VIII. STATUS OF MPOA IMPLEMENTATION
Considerable efforts, by AUC, RECs, Member States and Partners to domesticate and implement the PoA
CARMMA launched in May 2009 to speed up the process of implementation of MPOA
Detailed assessment of Progress currently underway

23. IX. KEY MILESTONES IN 2010 AND BEYOND
JANUARY 2010: PROGRESS ASSESSMENT REPORT
APRIL 2010: REVIEW WORKSHOP ON MPOA
MAY 2010: SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CAMH
JUNE/JULY 2010: AU SUMMIT ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
JULY 2010 – JUNE 2014: WORK ON SRHR CONTINUES

24. X. CRITICAL CHALLENGES
INCREASED INITIATIVES/COMMITMENTS, LIMITED IMPLEMENTATION ON THE GROUND
SLOW PROGRESS IN REDUCING MATERNAL AND CHILD MORTALITY (MDGs 4 and 5)
SHORTAGE OF TIMELY AND QUALITY DATA
INADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR SRHR

25. XI. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP
CAPACITY BUILDING AND ALLOCATION OF NEEDED RESOURCES/FACILITIES FOR CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF
MPOA ON SRHR
CARMMA
POPULATION/CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES
THE AUC IS COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ALL RELEVANT PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

26. I THANK YOU