In October 2020, the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-funded READY initiative and the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in Crises led an expert consultation bringing together key MNRH and infectious disease stakeholders to share and compile experiences and lessons learned from the first phase of the response. This webinar will present the findings of these consultations, including successful adaptations and challenges of MNRHiE programs during COVID-19; successes, challenges, and gaps in currently available COVID-19 tools and guidelines; the interaction between global and implementation levels, as related to MNRHiE programming; recommendations to support MNRHiE services and actors to improve access and quality of care to vulnerable populations in future waves of COVID-19 and in future outbreaks.
Maternal, Newborn, and Reproductive Health in Emergencies (MNRHiE) and COVID-19: Successes, Challenges, and Next Steps
READY InitiativeRecording of the READY initiative and IAWG's invite-only, three-day remote expert consultation where key RMNH and infectious disease stakeholders where attendees reviewed the current agenda for RMNH in COVID-19 to prepare and respond to coming waves of the pandemic.
Guidance Note: Integrating Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) into Ebola Response
Columbia UniversityThis Guidance Note provides streamlined guidance & practical insights for integrating menstrual hygiene management (MHM) into Ebola response. It was informed by a desk review and key informant interviews with global experts involved in EVD response.
Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Sample Project Proposal
Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in CrisesThis sample project proposal is for an NGO to submit to governments, United Nations agencies, such as UNFPA and UNHCR, or other donors.
The Humanitarian Gender Study
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Teaching HospitalThe study includes two online surveys. The Humanitarian Gender Bias Survey assesses how gender biases affect humanitarian practitioners and influence the implementation of humanitarian programs (~30-minute survey). The Humanitarian GBV Risk Mitigation & COVID-19 Survey is a separate 30-minute survey examining gender-based violence risk mitigation and COVID-19 in humanitarian settings. We encourage everyone working in the humanitarian field, in any sector, to participate in one or both of the surveys available here in 6 languages. Your participation will help improve gender equality and strengthen humanitarian programming, including in the context of COVID-19.
OPPORTUNITY: Gender Equality Technical Advisor
International Rescue Committee (IRC)This role will be a key member of the Gender Equality Unit and will play a critical function to lead gender integration in programming strategy, standards, and guidance development. The role will engage with other Technical Excellence staff, the Strategy Unit, and country program teams to support new feminist and transformational programming frameworks, tools, and approaches.
As a dedicated staff member of the Newborn Initiative, the Advocacy and Comms Specialist will work closely with the IAWG Senior Advisor for Maternal and Newborn Health (IRC Senior Coordinator, IAWG Newborn Initiative) to advance key global- and national-level advocacy and communications agendas for MNH. Through coordination with key global, national, and local partners - particularly the IAWG MNH sub-working group and the Every Newborn Action Plan’s newborn health in emergencies working group - this position will support advocacy and communications efforts aimed at elevating the Roadmap within global networks and events, growing multi-sectoral commitments to the objectives with the Roadmap, and advancing national agendas that will institutionalize progress made for MNH. The Specialist will also lead the development and implementation of communications and knowledge management strategies aimed at coordinating, documenting, and reporting progress made by the global community in advancing the Roadmap.
Global Launch of the ASRH Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings: 2020 Edition! (First of Two)
IAWG Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive (ASRH) Sub-Working Group Online WebinarWe are pleased to announce the global launch of the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Toolkit (ASRH) for Humanitarian Settings: 2020 Edition. The launches will be co-developed and co-facilitated by the IAWG ASRH sub-working group, adolescents and young people, international and local organizations, and all those interested in making these events as engaging and inclusive as possible.
Global Launch of the ASRH Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings: 2020 Edition! (Second of Two)
IAWG Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive (ASRH) Sub-Working Group Online WebinarWe are pleased to announce the global launch of the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Toolkit (ASRH) for Humanitarian Settings: 2020 Edition. The launches will be co-developed and co-facilitated by the IAWG ASRH sub-working group, adolescents and young people, international and local organizations, and all those interested in making these events as engaging and inclusive as possible.
Cash and Voucher Assistance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Humanitarian Settings and Fragile States
KIT Royal Tropical InstituteGlobal Health Cluster and WHO SRHR supported KIT Royal Tropical Institute of Netherlands to undertake the desk review work on “Cash and Voucher Assistance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Humanitarian Settings and Fragile States”. KIT Netherlands conducted a broad literature review and case studies and developed a compendium of guidelines and tools for CVA for SRH in humanitarian settings to bring the evidence on effects of CVA for SRH outcomes.
Remembering: Mme Henriette Eke
Achu LordfredAs the National Midwifery Advisor, UNFPA DRC, Mme Henriette Eke collaborated with the IAWG Training Partnership Initiative on an effort to strengthening the health system through the integration of MISP for Sexual and Reproductive Health into basic midwifery training in the three DRC provinces. Her leadership and vision for this effort – alongside the team at UNFPA, the Ministry of Higher Education and Universities, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, National Midwifery Association, participating Midwifery Schools, and other partners – resulted in a revised national midwifery curriculum that included the MISP and equipping training institutions, instructors, and internship sites with the tools and training to support the roll out of the new curriculum in Kasai, Central Kasai, and Oriental Kasai. Lessons learned from this monumental achievement greatly contributed to the global SRHR’s community’s understanding of how to successfully plan for operationalize comprehensive SRH services after implementing the MISP during an emergency.
An Analytic Perspective of a Mixed Methods Study During Humanitarian Crises in South Sudan: Translating Facility- and Community-Based Newborn Guidelines into Practice
Conflict and Health | Samira Sami, Ribka Amsalu, Alexander Dimiti, Debra Jackson, Kemish Kenneth, Solomon Kenyi, Janet Meyers, Luke C. Mullany, Elaine Scudder, Barbara Tomczyk & Kate KerberIn South Sudan, the civil war in 2016 led to mass displacement in Juba that rapidly spread to other regions of the country. Access to health care was limited because of attacks against health facilities and workers and pregnant women and newborns were among the most vulnerable. Translation of newborn guidelines into public health practice, particularly during periods of on-going violence, are not well studied during humanitarian emergencies. During 2016 to 2017, we assessed the delivery of a package of community- and facility-based newborn health interventions in displaced person camps to understand implementation outcomes. This case analysis describes the challenges encountered and mitigating strategies employed during the conduct of an original research study.