SNIs latest position paper on Meaning Youth Participation and Youth Empowerment was published in January.
Welcome to the April 2022 edition with our new newsletter format! Since our last update in January, we've been working hard on some digital processes at Share-Net, and decided to slim-down our newsletter to share more bite-sized updates and more SRHR resources. We hope you find it useful and enjoy reading!
There has been lots going on at Share-Net International (SNI) too. We are delighted to announce our 15 winning Activation Grantee recipients for 2022 (more below), we are proud of completing the first SHIRIM cycle on knowledge translation with the theme SRHR information and education, and preparations for the 2022 Co-Creation Conference in Colombia in July, are going well. We're also in the process of reflecting and reviewing; Consultants for the Narrative review of Share-Net are working on their report, the Mid-Term Review is underway, and our annual working plan was approved by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We're also happy to share three new Share-Net position papers on Meaningful Youth Participation by the team at Share-Net International, Share-Net Netherlands have released a paper on Mens SRHR, and Share-Net Jordan share their position paper on Ageing and SRHR. For our French speaking audience, Share-Net Burundi have also published a narrative review on accessing quality information on SRHR in Burundi, and a Policy Brief on promoting SRHR in the Burundian Media.
Prominently, the World Health Organisation have also released their first new Abortion Care Guidelines since 2012, featuring over 50 recommendations spanning clinical practice, health service delivery, and legal and policy interventions to support quality abortion care. The guidelines include new recommendations for telemedicine where appropriate, a method that has helped support access to abortion and family planning service during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find all these and links to more SRHR updates below.
We hope you enjoy this new format. If you have any feedback or suggestions for our future editions, you can complete this short 3 minute survey here.
2022 SNI Grantees Announcement
Meet our 2022 grantees! In February, we revealed the 15 selected projects to receive SNI funding for SRHR topics in 2022. Dorine Thomissen, Coordinator of SNI shared "It was the first time we followed our newly developed participatory grant making process. We are glad it has brought us this result of 15 highly diverse quality proposals in which multiple SRHR themes, regions, and populations will be addressed. We are confident the grants will lead to a great variety of very interesting knowledge products." The 2022 Grantees’ projects cover various SRHR topics: from Abortion rights, SRHR for persons with disabilities and special needs, and projects focusing on Female Genital Mutilation, to menstrual hygiene for LGBTQIA+ people and contraceptive rights. Read the full blog post here.
Illustration: Sophie Kathleen
Co-Creation Conference 2022, where are we?
Access to quality information on SRHR, including technologies, accessibility, cultural translation and new challenges such as the fight against disinformation is the central topic for our coming International Co-Creation Conference, (CCC) “Engaging in knowledge translation together”.
This year the CCC will be held in a hybrid format from July 4-7 2022, interested people will be able to participate virtually or face-to-face in Bogotá, Colombia. We are happy to report that the Share-Net country hubs are already working with their respective national Communities of Practices, and have submitted their key stakeholder mappings and national recommendations for the consultants’ team to develop their narrative review.
We will launch the brand for the CCC soon with an expectation video and through social media.
We'll be sending more information!
Greetings from Share-Net Colombia.
SRHR News & Updates
Share-Net Bangladesh Releases New SRHR App
To make knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) more accessible and convenient for its members, Share-Net Bangladesh has developed the mobile application of its website! The brilliantly integrated app will keep you updated on all recent news, events, job and fund opportunities, and publications on SRHR. The app is now available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Read More Here
Share-Net Burkina Faso Launches New Regional Digital SRHR CoP
Share-Net Burkina Faso has launched a new regional Community of Practise (CoP) on Digital SRHR needs, in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Benin. Read more here.
Breaking the Silence on Infertility: Videos and Webinar Recording
In our last newsletter we shared the Policy Brief 'Breaking the Silence on Infertility'. We followed up in January with a webinar (watch the recording here), and have since released nine video knowledge products in English, French, Arabic, Bengali, and Kirundi. You can find them here.
Course: Organisational Activism for Systemic Change
Disrupt Development is excited to launch a new training on Organisational Activism for Systems Change where development professionals explore and learn ways to organise, lead, and influence organisational change from within. Join the latest crash course for organisational activists and leaders who long to change the international development system and civil society. Starting from yourself, your team and organisation. Registration closes 30 April 2022.
National CoP Meeting in Ethiopia
Share-Net Ethiopia organised a meeting with their National Community of Practice (CoP) for the upcoming 2022 Co-Creation Conference at Best Western Plus hotel on 4th March 2022, in Addis Ababa. Here, they discussed the role of the CoP and prioritised the subtopic of Access to quality information on SRHR. Read more here.
State of World Population 2022: Seeing the Unseen - The Case for Action in the Neglected Crisis of Unintended Pregnancy
On March 30th, members of SNI and SNNL attended the launch of The State of Women Report in The Hague, Netherlands. The State of World Population 2022 takes up the issue of unintended pregnancy and looks at its drivers and impact. UNFPA takes a look at causes and consequences of unmet need for family planning, but also at the constellation of forces that can lead to an unintended pregnancy and at how that pregnancy can harm a woman’s or adolescent’s health, her earnings potential and more. Read the full report in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian here.
Vice-Versa Features Share-Net
In January, Vice-versa, the Dutch Journalistic Magazine for Global Issues, published an extended feature on Share-Net International. Click here to read the full article!
Linking Research, Policy, and Practise: Creative Zines by Fra(m)menti
In November last year, we held the 10th anniversary edition of the Linking Research, Policy, and Practise conference, where young and early-career SRHR professionals have the opportunity to present their research projects. We are now delighted to share the creative Zines that document the conference, created by Italian Feminist Collective Fra(m)menti. Head over to KIT's ISSUU page to read the magazines in full!
RAHMY Knowledge Products & Webinar
RAHMY stands for 'Respectful, abuse-free, harmonised motherhood through meaningful youth participation', by SNI member YourEgyptianDoula. You can read more here, and discover the knowledge products including videos, tip sheets for your mothers, bilingual fact-sheets in English and Arabic on obstetric violence, a recorded webinar, and a policy brief entitled 'Introducing Share-Decision Making for respectful maternal Care: The Case for Egypt'.
Not Your Usual Subjects Podcast
Research, policy and practice show that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on young people’s SRHR worldwide: both by exacerbating existing SRHR challenges and unearthing new barriers. Not Your Usual Subject by Shake the Dust is an activation grant project of Share-Net International, and shines light on the most pressing SRHR issues through the eyes of young people. Read the full blog post here, including links to an Evidence Brief (in English and French), videos, and the podcast series!

New Dutch Foreign Policy Note on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation: Call for contributions
Are you active in the area of foreign trade and development cooperation? The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, is currently developing new policy for the years ahead. Do you work for an NGO, a business that operates internationally, a think tank, university or government body, or do you simply have a keen interest in foreign trade and development cooperation? Take part in the online consultation until April 15 2022.
Latest SRHR Resources, Articles, & Guidelines
Disability and Sexuality: Claiming Sexual & Reproductive Rights
What barriers do people, especially women with disabilities, experience in accessing SRH services, particularly in the health sector? What context-specific strategies should be developed to facilitate recognition of the sexuality and reproductive rights of people, particularly women, with disabilities? How can appropriate SRH services be made available to people with disabilities in their communities? Read the latest paper from Reproductive Health Matters to learn more.
BALSDA: New guideline on innovating methodologies for involving young people from a diverse background on SRHR research and advocacy
Young people, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds, are often largely underrepresented in mainstream SRHR interventions. Only limited data on SRHR of young people is available. Stereotypes and cultural norms influence decision making by policy makers and practitioners rather than evidence. Cultural sensitivities and challenging contexts can hinder identifying and reaching young people effectively. Learn more and read the guideline here.
Share-Net-Jordan: Position Paper on Ageing and SRHR
Share-Net Jordan have released a new position paper (in Arabic), examining the SRHR needs of people over the age of sixty, as an increasing demographic in Jordanian society. The paper (in Arabic) argues that scientific research, policies, and programs can often neglect the consideration of the SRHR needs of this segment of society, while SRHR affects the overall health of individuals and society. Read more here.
Guttmacher Insitute: 150 New Country Profiles
"Country-specific estimates show that unintended pregnancy and abortion are experiences shared by individuals everywhere, and that barriers to reproductive health care exist in low-, middle-, and high-income countries." Head over to the Guttmacher Institutes website to read more and explore reproductive health data by country!
Narrative Review: Access to Quality Information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Burundi
Read Share-Net Burundi's latest Narrative Review focusing on the state of knowledge and evidence around the theme of SRHR for adolescents and youth in Burundi. The review (in French) - Accès à l’information de qualités sur la santé sexuelle et reproductive ainsi que les droits y afferant au Burundi - was published by a new CoP, formed in response to the upcoming CCC conference focusing on Engaging in Knowledge Translation Together, to ensure that information, evidence and challenges are addressed during the conference and practical solutions are put in place after the conference.
Policy Brief: The Role of the Media in Promoting SRHR in Burundi
Share-Net Burundi have released a new policy brief (in French) - Note de Politique: Le rôle des médias dans la promotion de la santé sexuelle et les droits y afférant au Burundi - examining the role of the media in promoting better health care, as it is not limited to only to public relations. Read more about the equally important role of public involvement in discussions about the design and implementation of strong health systems and more here.
NEW: World Health Organisation Abortion Care Guideline
The WHO have released a new Abortion Care Guideline, bringing together over 50 recommendations spanning clinical practise, health service delivery, and legal and policy interventions. The new guidelines support quality abortion care, across the continuum of care, including provision of information, abortion management, and post-abortion care. Read the full guideline here.
Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement and Partnership in SRH programming: a strategic guide
This Strategic Planning Guide is intended to lead program managers, planners, and decision makers through a strategic process to meaningfully and effectively engage and partner with adolescents, youth, and/or youth-led organisations on sexual and reproductive health programs and initiatives. Meaningful adolescent and youth engagement and partnership is a right for adolescents and youth and can improve the quality and responsiveness of sexual and reproductive health programs and policies, in turn leading to improved development outcomes. Read the Strategic Planning Guide.
Share-Net Netherlands: Position Paper on Mens SRHR
Sexual and reproductive health and rights are often seen as the domain of women and girls’ health and well-being. Men and boys are considered important in SRHR, but mainly as partners, gatekeepers and policymakers. This position paper by Share-Net Netherlands argues that men and boys have their own sexual and reproductive health issues and concerns. Addressing men’s concerns benefits not only themselves, but the rippling effect through their partners and communities allows the achievement of SRHR for all. Read and download the full position paper here.
Contraceptive Method Introduction to Expand Choice, a Strategic Planning Guide
This Guide is intended to lead program managers, planners, national policy makers, and other stakeholders through a strategic process to coordinate the introduction of contraceptive methods through public and private access channels. The guide was developed through consultation with technical experts and summarises guidance from key resources for method introduction. It provides an overview and links to other resources for more depth and detail. Successful contraceptive introduction efforts typically include seven elements. These elements are not listed as linear steps because the process is often iterative; revisiting and adapting approaches is often necessary to set the stage for scale-up. Read the Strategic Planning Guide