| 31 March 2016
Association pour le Bien-Etre Familial/Naissances Désirables
The Democratic Republic of Congo is vast: it is Africa’s second largest country and has nearly 68 million inhabitants. The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges are correspondingly immense, with the country recording some of the poorest SRH statistics globally. The Association de Bien-Etre Familial – Naissances Désirables (ABEF-ND) was founded in 1977, and since then it has worked tirelessly to drive changes which will secure a better future for the country. ABEF-ND offers sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, education and communication for young people. It offers HIV and AIDS prevention and management services, and community-based distribution of contraceptives. It also advocates strenuously around SRH issues with legislators and health professionals. As such, it’s central to shaping relevant national policies. It achieved this through static clinics, associated clinics and community-based distributors (CBDs) and community-based services (CBSs). ABEF-ND has a small number of staff who are backed by a large body of volunteers: together, they are determined to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. ABEF-ND works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and in the private sector with faith-based health facilities. Non-governmental organizations partners include Service Centrale d'Education à la Vie (SCEV), the Women’s Action Network (RAF), Radios for the Consolidation of Peace (RCP+), Amo Congo. Donors include Programme National de Lutte contre le Sida (PNLS), UNFPA, UNHCR and GTZ. It is a Member of the National Council of NGOs against AIDS.
| 31 March 2016
Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association
The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) is a non-governmental organization founded in 1992, registered in public benefit. Its activities are oriented towards several main areas of work – access to health services, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), health and sexuality education, advocacy, prevention of trafficking of human beings, sustainable development policies and prevention of HIV/AIDS and STI. The target groups of the organization are various and include mainstream young people, state, municipality and school authorities, health professionals, NGO and community leaders, teachers, journalists. BFPA puts special focus on marginalized and socially deprived groups – Roma, other minorities, blind and deaf children, young people with disabilities, rural women, children in institutions, young people with criminal record. BFPA is expert and innovator and introduced for the first time in the country the concept of peer education, youth friendly services, mobile services, Roma health mediators. BFPA staff, Management Board and volunteers have different professional backgrounds. This diversity of professional and social expertise helps to implement successfully over 75 projects, supported by over 50 different donors. These projects assure ongoing health, social and educational activities in Sofia and county-wide with the support of BFPA branches and various partner networks in the country and abroad. The interventions include national-wide campaigns, health services and screenings, wide range of trainings, researches, peer education etc.