Launched in Kampala, Uganda, 2000

1. Launched in Kampala, Uganda, 2000

2. What is Amanitare A partnership of African women’s voice, articulating the importance of women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health at regional level. A coalition of existing groups active in the field of sexual and reproductive health, gender equity and women rights at national level.

3. Mission Statement Amanitare aspires to create a working partnership of African activists, women’s groups and networks around the fundamental rights of women to sexual and reproductive health, autonomy in sexual and reproductive decisions, the right to bodily integrity and freedom from coercion and violence.

4. Mission Statement To create a platform for dialogue and consensus building, information exchange, skills training to coordinate advocacy at policy level and to build support among various popular constituencies towards social transformation.

5. Amanitare’s uniqueness Positions the issue of SRHR and choice as a central development challenge Links the agendas of key regional structures using national, regional and international levels to prioritise SRHR issues Builds feminist leadership on the continent, particularly amongst young women to articulate/shape the SRHR agenda and women rights on the continent.

6. Amanitare’s uniqueness Challenges cultural and societal constructions heavily enmeshed within the African societal fabric. A network strongly believing in the importance of its core principles and values. Working together to bring about the necessary pressure on governments to adopt this agenda.

7. Amanitare’s uniqueness A framework that supports SRHR activists to make inter linkages Locates politics of the body central to the political and development centre stage Explicit focus on issues of sex, sexuality, reproduction and women’s autonomy

8. Key Focus Areas & strategies Three thematic focus areas: Violence against women and girls HIV/AIDS Sexuality

9. The EC/ ON Amanitare project • March 2010 – February 2013 • Project titled ‘Accelerating the right to sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls • Project being implemented in 6 countries • Mozambique – Forum Mulher • Nigeria – Girl Power Initiative • South Africa – Masimanyane • Uganda – MEMPROW • Zambia – WLSA Zambia • Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre & Network (ZWRCN)

10. The EC/ON Amanitare Project Overall Impact Improved sexual and reproductive health status of women and girls in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa

11. Immediate results: Strengthened capacity by civil society to advocate for improved access to SRHR knowledge, information, education and services in respective countries. SRHR-based women’s movement strengthened in the region Enhanced implementation by governments of their national, regional and international commitments to realise their obligations to women and girls in relation to SRHR issues.

12. Achievements At inception phase, situational analysis conducted focussing on: institutional capacity of each lead CSO the socio-political and economic context within the respective country and an exploration of the national interpretations of the components within the project.

13. Achievements Appointment of Country Coordinators in the lead CSOs Establishment of 6 coalitions in the respective countries with grass root structures. Organizations identified on expertise in SRHR (policy, research, advocacy, media, etc)

14. Achievements • 4 regional workshops conducted to strengthen project management aspects amongst 6 CSOs • 3 regional workshops (Multi Generational Schools on Sexuality, VAW, HIV and AIDS • Feminism and SRHR over arching theme • 12 national workshops (coalition level) • HeRWAI • BMETA

15. Overall Achievements • 6 country coalitions are in place (functionality varied) • Information base on the status of SRHR policies developed at regional and national level • Capacity has been built in policy and budget analysis • Ongoing capacity building • SRHR • Feminism • Advocacy & campaign strategy development • Project and financial management

16. Country Policy Focus: Problem Tree • Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health • Mocambique, Nigeria and Uganda • Contraceptive Access (CPR) • Zambia • Links between HIV and AIDS and VAW • Access to information & services for sexual assault survivors • South Africa • Maternal Mortality • Zimbabwe

17. Cross Cutting Challenges • Inadequate budget for ¼ coalition meetings • Intense pace of project • impact and compliance compromised • Project demand exceeds capacity • Competing priorities: CSO work vs ASRN Campaign • Inflexibility of budgets • Illogical sequencing of activities (Project Plan) • Sustainable & effective participation of coalition members

18. Challenges Financial expectations by coalition members Language : All communication and capacity building conducted in Portuguese Human resource capacity constraints at secretariat and country level Religious diversity in some coalitions – not sharing same values

19. Ongoing Outputs • National campaign and advocacy tactics developed and strengthened • Local capacity building: CBOs/Networks • information provision • social mobilization • National Campaigns Launch: March 2012 • Regional Campaign: March 2012

20. Lessons learnt Project requires more resources and capacity than what was envisaged Organizational and contextual variables have a bearing on the project’s success and impact Countries are at different levels