Date of Establishment: March 2009, Joberg,S.AFounding 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 Conferences)
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 MAWorking 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,…)