The eleven NGO members of Alliance Droits et Santé (Rights and Health Alliance) met at the end of October in Dakar, Senegal. Four days of intensive work were organized in two parts: the network's General Assembly and the new 2015-2018 operational program, with the launch of a new project to "Contribute to improving the status, rights, and sexual and reproductive health of women and adolescent girls in West Africa, particularly their access to contraception." For this new stage in its development, the network will extend its activities to Senegal and Mali with the integration of new member associations, such as Amspot.
Alliance Droits et Santé is structured for the long term
The 30 people representing the eleven members of Alliance Droits et Santé enthusiastically discussed the various scenarios for the future structure of the network. The first step will be the adoption and signing of the charter, which will complement the values and vision already defined collectively. The next step will be to draw up statutes specifying the respective roles and responsibilities of each of the network's stakeholders.
A new project for women and girls in West Africa
On an operational level, participants collectively took ownership of the challenges and action plan for the two-and-a-half-year project entitled "Contributing to improving the sexual and reproductive status, rights, and health of women and adolescent girls in West Africa, particularly their access to contraception." Coordinated by Equipop and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the French Development Agency, this project aims to improve the sexual and reproductive rights and health, particularly access to contraception, of women and adolescents in five West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal). The Alliance members will combine political and social mobilization in innovative ways to strengthen the political and financial commitments of governments and local authorities.
A busy schedule in the coming months
The Alliance therefore has a busy schedule ahead of it in advancing the rights and health of women and adolescent girls in West Africa. Plans include developing national advocacy strategies and setting up networks of "champions." Around 20 prominent figures committed to supporting women and adolescent girls will be identified in each country to share their stories. These real-life stories will be shared on a website and through radio broadcasts. Finally, the project will also contribute to the organizational development and technical capacity building of member NGOs by providing tools and knowledge, remote support, and personalized coaching provided by Equipop.
