Acknowledgement

Background

The 2005 Continental Policy Framework on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) intended to accelerate the improvement of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa – a vital foundation for the achievement of the ICPD goals and the MDGs, particularly MDGs 4, 5 and 6.

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  Sexual and reproductive health legislation.
  
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  Integration of sexual and reproductive health services into primary health care.
  
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  Sexual and reproductive health communication.
  
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  Budgeting of sexual and reproductive health activities.
  
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  Mainstreaming gender in development programmes.
  
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  Youth sexual and reproductive health.
  
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  Midlife concerns of both men and women.
  
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  The fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other infectious diseases.
  
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  Strengthening of the sexual and reproductive health programme of the AU.
  

In 2006, the Special Session of AU Health Ministers adopted the Maputo Plan of Action for implementing the Continental Policy Framework on SRHR. The goal for all stakeholders and partners was stated as (AUC, 2006b: 5):

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  Integrating STI/HIV/AIDS with SRHR programmes and services, including reproductive cancers, to maximize the effectiveness of resource utilization and to attain a synergetic complementary of the two strategies.
  
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  Repositioning family planning as an essential part of the attainment of health MDGs.
  
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  Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and youth as a key SRH component.
  
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  Addressing unsafe abortion.
  
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  Delivering quality and affordable services in order to promote safe motherhood, child survival, and maternal, newborn and child health.
  
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  Fostering African and south-south cooperation for the attainment of ICPD and MDG goals in Africa.
  

The Maputo POA also addressed the following cross-cutting issues:

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  Increase domestic resources for SRHR, including addressing the human resource crisis.
  
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  Include males as an essential partner of SRHR programmes.
  
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  Adopt a multisector approach to SRHR.
  
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  Foster community involvement and participation.
  
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  Strengthen SRH commodity security with emphasis on family planning and emergency obstetric care and referral.
  
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  Since the adoption of the Maputo Plan of Action (MPOA), some countries have:
  
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    Increased the share of health allocations in national budgets.
    
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    Created new incentives to retain health and medical personnel.
    
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    Increased emphasis on emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
    
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    Instituted maternal death audits in annual operational plans.
    
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    Improved health management information systems.
    
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    Adopted progressive gender policies.
    
  Put in place operational research for evidence-based action and effective monitoring tools to track progress made on the implementation of the Plan of Action.
  
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  Integrate nutrition into STI/HIV/AIDS and SRHR, especially for children and pregnant women, by incorporating nutrition into the school curriculum and institutionalizing food fortification.
  
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  Involve families and communities.
  
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  Involve the Ministries of Health in conflict resolution.
  
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  Ensure rural–urban service delivery equity.
  

The AUC Mandate

In the Maputo POA, “the African Union Commission was mandated to play advocacy role, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation, dissemination of best practices and harmonization of policies and strategies” (AUC, 2006b: para 26, page 19).

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  The Executive Council Decision on the Special Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Health on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of 2006 (EX.CL/Dec.327 (X) rev. 1):
  

Requests the Commission, in collaboration with relevant United Nations Agencies and other development partners, to advocate for implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action for operationalisation of the Continental Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa, and report periodically on progress of implementation.

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  The Executive Council Decision on the theme of the July 2010 Session of the AU Assembly – 2009 (Assembly/AU/Dec.2329XII): Fourteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly: “Promotion of Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development.
  

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  The Summit Decision on Accelerating Action for Child Survival and Development in Africa to Meet the MDGs – 2005 (Assembly/AU/Dec.75(V)).
  

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  The Africa Health Strategy (2007–2015).
  

Besides these, other relevant mandates include a variety of AU and international policy documents on reproductive health; maternal and child health; child survival, growth and development; and women, gender and development.

Purpose of the Report

It is the intention of this report to inform Member States and other stakeholders of the progress made in the implementation of the Maputo POA on SRHR. The report identifies the challenges encountered by Member States in the process of implementation, good practices and lessons learnt that can be shared among stakeholders. It also proposes recommendations for the next steps in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa.