Donors focus on MDG 5
Through Millennium Development Goal number five (MDG 5), donors and governments have committed to improve maternal health and achieve universal access to reproductive health. But many countries of Asia and the Pacific are lagging far behind in work to achieve this goal.
To accelerate action on MDG 5, countries of Asia and the Pacific need additional resources. Donors must renew and strengthen their commitment to meet the challenge.
Resource moblisation for maternal health was the main focus of discussion at a satellite meeting, co-hosted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, at the 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR) in Beijing on 18 October 2009.
Panelists included Jose G. Rimon from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Musimbi Kanyoro from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Dr Akiko Hagiwara from JICA. The session was moderated by Suzanne Ehlers fromPopulation Action International.
Resource mobilisation efforts not only need to seek more money, but also ensure resources are better spent, Mr Rimon said. There was a need in Asia and the Pacific for advocacy to influence more progressive policies for sexual and reproductive health and rights and also increase visibility of sexual and reproductive health issues.
Mr Rimon underlined the importance of the MDGs. At the Gates Foundation, all development work must contribute to achieving the MDGs. Other donors, including the US government, take a similar approach.
Mr Rimon said he and others and the Gates Foundation had been encouraged by great increases from European donors for sexual and reproductive health. The Gates Foundation had also been successful in helping to leverage funds for reproductive health through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
JICA, as the biggest bilateral donor based in Asia and the Pacific, has a long history of leveraging Japanese experience to support health systems and services through the developing world. According to Dr Akiko, training for midwives, programs to strengthen health systems and develop organizations were common in Japan's approach.
Dr Akiko said JICA also supports programs to provide empower women and provide emergency obstetric care. Newer initiatives included activities to promote the involvement of men and boys and support to foster south-south cooperation.
Dr Akiko also noted that there is often a need for internal advocacy within agencies like JICA. The case needs to be made to colleagues in the finance ministry and decision makers within JICA who have to decide between competing interests and agendas.
Dr Kanyoro spoke about the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's long commitment to global population issues and reproductive health. While Packard was narrowing its focus to support activities mostly in Africa and South Asia, the foundation would continue to have a strong commitment to advocacy for that leads to better conditions for women and children. The foundation would continue to support leadership programs - for women and NGOs - that sought to improve reproductive health and rights and reduce population growth.
There was significant interest in youth programs from all three donors. Dr Kanyoro noted a critical review of her foundation's programs which found that activities targeting girls between the age of 12 and 18 were most effective.
The panelists provoked a rich discussion and questions from the audience. The donor roundtable made clear that the unmet need for family planning reproductive health remains urgent in Asia and the Pacific.
Family planning, safe abortion services and reproductive health commodities are important interventions that will improve maternal health and push countries in Asia and the Pacific closer to achieving universal reproductive health. Support from donors, and partnerships with governments and civil society on new and alternative paradigms in the lead-up to the 2015 deadline will be crucial.
