Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Transformational potential:

To advance the SRHR agenda in the SSA region, with a particular focus on adolescent girls and young women.

The Team Europe Proposal:

Geographic coverage: TEI activities may be implemented at multi-country, sub-regional, regional and cross-regional levels, based on need and potential to add value for the desired outcomes.

1. Strengthen political commitments and capacities to implement continental and regional SRHR:

• Joint education and health sector responses for SRHR outcomes (such as comprehensive sexuality education, linking school to health services);
• Inclusion of SRHR within the Health System Strengthening/Universal Health Coverage agendas.

2. Strengthen regional mechanisms to address supply-side constraints and improve access to quality assured SRH-commodities

• Use of pooled procurement mechanisms;
• Supporting the harmonization of regulatory environment;
• Improving supply chain management systems.

3. Strengthen advocacy and social accountability of regional commitments on SRHR

• Increasing SRHR data availability and analysis for evidence-based policy making;
• Advocacy, and system and service reforms;
• Promoting demand creation and movement building;
• Promoting coordinated actions of regional parliamentarians, civil society (networks and alliances), women and youth movements.

4. Added value:

• Strengthening the implementation of regional normative frameworks and increasing accountability;
• Tackling drivers of negative SRHR outcomes and promoting enablers for SRHR across borders Increased efficiencies;
• Evidence and knowledge management and learning;
• Promoting sustainability through movement building.

5. Synergies with existing and new investments in SRHR & other Regional Health TEIs:

• MAV+ TEI;
• Digital Health TEI;
• Public Health Institutes TEI.