Launched in Kampala, Uganda, 2000

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Key Focus Areas & strategies

Three thematic focus areas: Violence against women and girls

HIV/AIDS Sexuality

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)

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

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.

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.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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