Our Changing World and Implications for Reproductive Health

Changing contextMore large emergencies• Four Level 3’s (Iraq, Syria, CAR, S.Sudan)• 3,000,000 Syrian refugees scattered across five countries

New threats; higher levels of insecurity• ISIS, Boko Haram

A health issue becomes a global crisis• Ebola West Africa 20,650 infected; 8,153 dead

• Largest number of people displaced by conflict since WWII• Syria – 10.8 million affected by

the conflict, ½ of population. 6.45 million internally displaced, 3 million refugees • 1.4 million internally displaced in

S.Sudan since Dec 2013• NGOs and donors stretched as

never before• Lesser crises & protracted crises

– Libya, Honduras, Sahel, Ukraine, Somalia, Afghanistan… falling off the map

Changing Actors• Gulf States• Islamic NGOs• Militaries• For-profits

Changing rhetoric• Humanitarian system – not fit for

purpose• Northern and western normative

constructs on aid – outdated• System is “not delivering”• MSF – Where is Everyone report

Changing practice• Needs out-stripping resources (personnel & financial)• Policy and guidance development out-stripping practice• Overwhelming responders with guidance, tools, standards –

mismatch with skillsets, available time, and capacity• Increased specialization & expertise but not getting basics

right/addressed• Donors and HQs increasingly out of sync with field practice

Implications for Reproductive Health• How do we advance reproductive health in such contexts? • Role of the IAWG?