The Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network (EARHN) is a South-South network comprised of government ministries addressing population issues. Its geographical coverage includes Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. EARHN was founded in 1996 by members in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In December 2007, the Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network met to re-invigorate its work and develop a Strategic Plan for 2008-2012.
Eastern African countries share similar social, political, demographic and geographic environments. EARHN believes that south-south cooperation has untapped potential for approaching new opportunities and sharing good practices in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Eastern African countries have extensive experiences in SRHR; these good practices and experiences offer a set of known lessons on which to build a new, collaborative effort to initiate change in-country and regionally, in order to improve the health and rights of all people, and in particular, the SRHR status of women and youth. EARHN will build upon the experiences of members within and outside of the network to build a collaborative effort to create positive change in both policy and programme implementation within Eastern Africa.
EARHN’s vision is “an Eastern African region free from sexual and reproductive health burdens.” The mission of EARHN is “to Promote sound sexual and reproductive health policies and programmes across borders through strategic partnerships, effective coordination and sharing of critical information, experiences and expertise.” EARHN works through strategic partnerships, effective coordination and sharing of critical information, experiences and expertise. In order to attain its vision, carry out its mission and fulfil its mandate, EARHN has agreed on three areas of strategic focus: Advocacy and Coalition Building; Programme Development and Expansion; and Institutional Strengthening.
Advocacy and Coalition Building. EARHN will act as the link between policymakers and technical officers in different countries to advocate for stronger SRHR policies and laws. EARHN will convene and support the more effective involvement of civil society, NGOs and the private sector in policymaking and the provision of RH services and also collaborate with other existing networks in sub-Saharan Africa to avoid duplication of efforts and wastage of scarce resources.
Specific efforts will be made by EARHN to work with the East African Community (EAC) and negotiate the potentially overlapping mandates between the EAC and EARHN. The EAC has agreed to work with EARHN to synergise efforts and increase the impact of both networks in implementing their programmes.
EARHN will build upon its members and partners’ experience in order to enhance political commitment and forge strong coalitions across programmes, sectors, professions, and countries.
Programme Development and Expansion. EARHN has identified the lack of programmes and collaboration between and across Eastern African countries as a significant limitation to the network. South-south cooperation has untapped potential for approaching new opportunities and sharing good practices in SRHR.
Success stories and good practices within East Africa and other developing areas are not as widely disseminated as they should be. EARHN believes that a sustained exchange of ideas, experiences and technologies from within the region will enhance policies and programmes through south-south cooperation with the least expense and maximum efficacy. EARHN sees the need not to focus only on the sharing of precise knowledge of effective policies and programmes, but also on the health systems that must deliver them.
Institutional Strengthening. In order for EARHN to assist members in effectively operationalizing and implementing programmes, she will develop her own internal capacity, through a more formalized structure of governance and staffing.
EARHN will mobilize resources, develop and implement annual work plans and budgets for the network and to carry out planned activities. Regular coordination and reviews will ensure that EARHN stays the course of institutional strengthening.