04 March, 2010Lisbon

Date of Establishment: March 2009, Joberg,S.AFounding members: 54 participants from 20 African countries + 7 other partners from other regions Governance Structure: -General Assembly – the founding members -SC 9 representing the 5 sub-regions of Africa -Advisory Board (31) +Coordination office -R Coordinator + 2 P/T +F/T staff- in Bamako/Mali

ICMA’s Catalytic role – The initiative was NOT because it was fashionable to create another RN but

Compelling factors/enabling environment: Unsafe abortion takes its greatest toll in Africa >30,000/yr (44% of global UA-related M deaths) = 90/day The inherent features of MA -as a breakthrough

technology to address the incidence and consequences of UA particularly in low resource and legally restricted settings like Africa

Regional legal and policy frameworks: Protocol to the ACHPR on the RWA (2005), MPoA (2006)The Global strategic frame works: ICPD PoA, MDGs Hence: a regional response to a global challenge

Goal: To contribute to the reduction of

maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa arising from unsafe abortion

Overall Objective: To provide a common platform to

increase access to Medical Abortion in Africa

Organised the Coordination Office Developed

Terms of Reference for the RN Plan of Action/strategies and Budget the Network Logo Prospectus (NOT yet printed) Website (NOT yet launched)

Promoted ANMA /MA (through regional and International Conferences)

Organised Sub-Regional Advocacy Workshop (DRC)

Conducted two bi-annual SC meetings

Institutional development: New Coordination Office/Coordinator, Capacity building,

Finalising incomplete activities -web site, prospectus

Disseminating information in regional and international conferences

Identifying existing SRHRs Networks in Africa Compiling and disseminating basic documents-

on MA, Abortion laws/policies in Africa- thru the Web

Organising a sub-regional advocacy workshop & the SC meeting

Broader recruitment and active engagement of members

Disseminating information on the major working languages used in the continent

Facilitating training on MAWorking with partners for

registration of MA drugs Forging alliance to advocate for

change of laws/policies

Global- With ICMA Guiding/Operating principles:

◦ Genuine partnership in the context of “affiliation”◦ Appreciating regional specificities ◦ Complementarity (advancing a common agenda)

Inter-regional: learning and experience /information sharing opportunities

Intra-regional :utilising existing resources◦ Materials-No need to reinvent the wheel! ◦ People (Advisory Board, Regional/National

Trainers)◦ Institutions/systems (MoH,…)