ABOUT THE ANSA

The African Network of SRHR Alliances (ANSA) is a network of organizations from country chapters that work together to advance, protect, and advocate for the realization of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), reproductive and gender justice by all young people in their diversity in Africa.

The ANSA was founded in 2021 by five SRHR Alliance chapters in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, and Ethiopia. The ANSA provides an opportunity for multistakeholder convening at national and regional levels and works to   

• Catalyze collective action by CSOs, champions and youth leaders to push for a progressive legal, policy and social environment for young people’s SRHR and gender justice.
• Spark and stimulateregional and local conversations among generations on SRHR and gender justice.
• Driveincreased public & private investment in SRHR and gender justice across Africa.
• Deliverconcrete, game-changing results for young people, women, and key population to enjoy their SRHR in a gender justice society

1.   SRHR CONTEXTS IN AFRICA

Despite the efforts over the last 3 decades, the young people in Africa continue to experience unacceptably worse SRHR indicators compared to those in the rest of the world.

• Africa is the youngest continent in the world with over 40% of its population aged 15 years and younger compared to 26% global average.
• Unsafe abortion is among the leading cause of maternal death in Africa, it is estimated that 5.2% – 17.2% of maternal deaths annually in Sub-Saharan Africa are due to unsafe abortions (WHO, 2020).
• There are 4000 new HIV infections globally every day, 60% are in sub-Saharan Africa ,10% are among children under 15 years of age ,90% are among adults aged 15 years and older, of whom: — 51% are among women — 31% are among young people (15–24) — 20% are among young women (15–24) (UNAIDS, 2021).
• African region continues to have highest number of births to women aged 15-19 per 1000 women in that age group (99 births/1000 adolescent females) in comparison to 44 births per 1000 adolescent females globally.
• Prevalence of child marriage in East and Southern Africa, at 36%, is higher than the global average; about 31 % of females between the age of 20 and 24 in the African region are married prior to age of 18
• 37% of ever-partnered women above the age of 15 in low and middle-income countries in the African region have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in their lifetime. This prevalence is higher than the global prevalence of 30%.

2.   WHY ANSA?

The African Network of SRHR Alliances was founded to respond to the growing magnitude and complexity of the SRHR space across Africa. The main added value of ANSA include

Opportunity for Linking and Learning among CSOs and champions: The ANSA is an inclusive platform that brings together CSOs, young people, champions, and diverse groups of leaders. The Country Chapters bring together diverse groups of Civil Society including youth led, youth service, women led, and religious founded and key population led organizations. These provide an opportunity for learning and linking from countries that have made progress and share lessons learnt across Africa.

Need to strengthen regional policy and legal advocacy: There are emerging trends of SRHR, and gender related policies being made through continental and regional blocks like: AU Commission, COMESA, CEN-SAD, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, IAGMD and SADC. These policies have significant influence on the SRHR policy environment at the country level. ANSA therefore provides a regional platform for CSOs to engage and influence policy decisions and frame works at regional and continental levels.

Need to harness stronger and bigger voices for SRHR Advocacy. The ANSA provides a solid vehicle for a more viable and coordinated global action towards realizing the SRHR needs for young people in their diversity all in the face of declining enabling environment. ANSA will support innovative, multi-thematic, multi-stakeholder partnerships, mobilize governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector coordinated at country level to catalyze collective action; spark global, regional, and local conversations among generations; drive the increase of domestic & private investment and deliver sustainable, culturally sensitive, innovative SRHR solutions for young people, women and girls, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Need for accelerated actions towards achieving Agenda 2030 SRHR Targets: With 7 years to the end of SDG targets, there is growing uncertainty if the SRHR related SDGs targets (SDG 3.7, SDG 5.6) will be realized. There is therefore an urgent need strengthen mechanisms for collaborations, networking and enhance learning among regional and national actors to push for accelerated actions to prioritize SEHR and ensure enabling regional and national programs.

SRHR opposition mitigation at regional and national levels: The opposition to SRHR for adolescents and young people is very organized, well-resourced, and networked at country and regional levels. This requires a well-organized and strategic response and mitigation strategies from SRHR advocates and implementers.  The ANSA will steer and provide a formidable and well capacitated movement of CSOs to respond and mitigate the emerging oppositions at global, regional, and country levels jointly with other development partners.

Scaling up the SRHR Alliance model. The SRHR Alliance model has worked well in Uganda, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Malawi. ANSA therefore provides the mechanisms and anchor to form chapters in other African countries creating opportunities to harness stronger and collective voices on SRHR across Africa and build a well-coordinated movement of CSOs working to transform the SRHR spaces in Africa.

3.   WHAT WE DO

Strategic Convening: The ANSA is a space for multistakeholder convening of key actors at regional and national. The ANSA membership brings together sub-thematic networks including HIV and AIDS, Family planning, Adolescent Health, SGBV and maternal health. This provides opportunity to engage and hold duty bearers accountable and to spur open conversation on emerging SRHR issues at regional and country level. This is being done through spearheading intergenerational and multistakeholder dialoguing at the grassroot, national and regional levels.

SRHR Movement Building: ANSA stimulates movement building of the young people, champions, youth leaders and like-minded organizations to create inclusive coalitions and collaborations at grassroot, national and regional that stands for and advocate for the enabling social, policy and legal environments. This is done through the inter-faith engagements, joint commemorations, and joint campaigns on emerging and existing SRHR issues and challenges faced by young people.

Capacity development: The ANSA spearheads capacity for key actors in the SRHR at regional and national levels. This is being done through linking and learning, capacity building training and institutional capacity support. Main capacity building areas including advocacy, lobby, and dialogue,

Shaping Narrative on SRHR: ANSA works to challenge the dominant narratives that constraining SRHR policy reforms and are entrenched in the strong moral, cultural and religious discourse in the member countries. Our work generates that deconstructs the moral and social narratives of adolescents’ and young people’s sexual and reproductive health in the member countries that driven by the powerful religious discourse, doctrines, and conspiracy ideologies.

Policy Advocacy: ANSA is at the forefront of the push for more progressive policies, high government commitment and refocus on young people SRH issues at national and regional levels. Through youth led advocacy and social accountability, policy research as well as monitoring domestication and implementation international commitments and frameworks in the member countries.

Research and documentation:  The ANSA also focus on generating critical evidence at national and regional levels for strategic policy advocacy and to inform programming approach for young people’s SRHR.

4.   STRATEGIC FOCUS OF ANSA

Vision

An African society where ALL young people in their diversity have EQUAL and EQUITABLE opportunities to realize and enjoy their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.

Mission

To strengthen the SRHR movement in Africa and inspire young people in their diversities to enjoy their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and with respect to Human rights and gender equality.

Our Strategic Objectives:

The African Network of SRHR Alliances (ANSA) strives to achieve the following strategic objectives.

1. To strengthen mechanisms for collaboration, shared learning, and networking for SRHR programing at the national, regional, and global levels.

2. To enhance joint evidence-based advocacy for progressive laws and policy changes on emerging Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights issues at national, regional, and global levels

3. To convene different CSO working in different thematic areas at national and regional level and create one strong platform with shared resources and a strong shared voice in advocacy and other key aspects of SRHR programming.

4. To build a movement of Key technical gate keepers of young people (doctors, Teachers local government officials) that are supportive of young people’s access to SRHR information and services in their diversity at national, regional, and global level.

5. To Map, monitor and devise means to mitigate opposition through engaging with key opinion shapers at National, regional and Global level

6. To strengthen regional research and information repository on current and emerging Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights trends and issues in Africa

Our Values

Operation of ANSA will be guided by the following core values.

1. Collaborative Partnerships: We recognize that each member brings on board unique abilities and expertise. ANSA members and partners shall work together to harness each other’s resources to achieve their objectives while upholding mutual respect and recognizing agreed leadership.

1. Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation: ANSA promotes and support equal participation of young people decision making regarding design, implementation, and monitoring of all its interventions.

1. Equity: We deliver our services to all young people in a fair and impartial manner. In line with the principles of gender transformative approach, the ANSA members commit to ensure equitable participation of both men and women.

1. Inclusiveness: At ANSA our program targets all categories of young people including those living with HIV and AIDS, LGBTQI, disability, and those in hard-to-reach areas.

1. Accountability: ANSA commits to total accountability to the youth, governments and development partners at all levels.

6. COMPOSITION

The membership of ANSA is currently comprised of the 5 country chapters namely:

1. SRHR Alliance Uganda
2. SRHR Alliance Malawi

• SRHR Alliance Ethiopia

1. SRHR Alliance Kenya and
2. SRHR Alliance Ghana

7. GOVERNANCE

The governance and management structures of ANSA include:

1. The Annual General Assembly (Supreme)
2. Governance Council (Board)
3. Regional Youth Advisory Committee (RYAC
4. Thematic Working Groups (TWGs)
5. The Secretariat