Networks for Reproductive Health Advocates

1. Population Experts in Developing Countries: Summary Report and Directory prepared in 2003—04 by the Institute of International Education (IIE) West Coast Center in San Francisco, USA

2. Join an International Initiative on Reproductive Health Supplies

3. Handbook on European Community Support for Population and Reproductive Health

4. Health Communication Materials Network (HCMN)

5. "A" Frame for Advocacy from Johns Hopkins University

6. Journals that publish reviews of publications on population and health and on the Asia-Pacific region

7. Key web addresses for advocates in the U.S.

8. North-South Collaboration on Global AIDS Advocacy: Report from the International Center for Research on Women and the Global AIDS Action Network

Join an International Initiative on Reproductive Health Supplies

The Interim Working Group on Reproductive Health Security (IWG) consisting of John Snow Inc. (JSI), Population Action International (PAI), Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and the Wallace Global Fund (WGF) came together in early 2000 to advocate for and strengthen efforts to ensure a secure supply of contraceptives and other reproductive health products to developing country health programs. The group works collegially to raise awareness about the importance of securing reproductive health supplies and to undertake research necessary to developing strategies for addressing reproductive health supply security.

On behalf of the IWG, PAI secured funding for an international gathering on "Meeting the Challenge: Contraceptives and Condoms for HIV/AIDS," held in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2001. The purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness, provide a forum for dialogue, and achieve consensus on steps for moving forward in bridging the widening gap between reproductive health supplies and needs in developing countries.

One of the most important outcomes of the meeting was a set of ecommended actions—the Istanbul Action Plan. These actions, ranging from enhancing reproductive health information systems to creating more effective coordinating mechanisms for donors and country stakeholders, will have a positive impact on reproductive health supplies shortages. The IWG received bridge funding to form a consortium structure as the most effective and efficient way to move forward over the next three to five years on the Action
Plans developed at the Istanbul meeting.

The Initiative has been established to provide the leadership and mobilization necessary to ensure implementation of the Istanbul Action Plan. The members will organize implementation teams for each of the Istanbul action items, involving the consortium members and other stakeholders. Where appropriate, Initiative members will participate in strategic planning, action item development, determining funding needs, joint fundraising and determining funding allocations among member organizations.

The member organizations of the initiative are: The German Foundation for World Population (DSW), The International Council on Management of Population Programmes (ICOMP), IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR), John Snow Inc. (JSI), Partners in Population and Development, PROFAMILIA, Population Action International (PAI), Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and The Wallace Global Fund (WGF).

For more information, go to http://www.nostockouts.org.

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Health Communication Materials Network (HCMN)

HCMN is an international network of professionals specializing in the development of health communication materials—pamphlets, posters, video, radio, novelty items, flipcharts, cue cards, training materials, electronic media, etc. HCMN provides a forum for health communication specialists to share ideas, information, and samples of health communication materials with their colleagues, and to seek advice and suggestions from others working in this field. The network maintains a website at http://www.hcmn.org.

Anyone involved in health communication materials development is invited to apply for free membership. To apply: Send an email to: Susan Leibtag, Coordinator, HCMN, at sleibtag@jhuccp.org. Please include the following information: Name, Title, Organization, Address (City / State / Postal Code / Country), E-mail address, Phone / Fax. Please also include a statement about why you want to join HCMN, and how you plan to contribute.

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"A" Frame for Advocacy from Johns Hopkins University

The Center for Communications Programs at Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, maintains a website on advocacy, The site gives tips for five steps in an advocacy program: analysis, strategy, moblization, action, evaluation, and continuity. It also contains links to other advocacy resources.