Member Associations

Established in 1957 as a grass-root movement, the Mauritius Family Planning & Welfare Association (MFPWA) was one of the earliest organizations in Africa focusing on family planning issues. As the nation struggled to find a way to address pressing population issues, a group of advocates formed MFPWA and started to provide contraceptive services directly to women. In 2018 the MFPWA is governed by an Act of Parliament 2018 as a body corporate.  Today, the organization caters for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the whole community. It also has particular strands of activity relating to specific groups including sexually abused children, elderly people, men and marginalized populations on Rodrigues and Agalega Islands.   MFPWA has 30 staff and 50 volunteers and offers services through 2 permanent facilities and several service points.  It also runs a day care centre for infants and children as a social enterprise initiative. The Association delivers services that include family planning, the prevention and management of HIV through voluntary counselling and testing, infertility management, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and screening for cancers of the reproductive systems in particular breast, cervical and prostate.  The Association began its first rehabilitation of sexually abused children in 2003 and has built a solid reputation in the domain. Services for the rehabilitation of victims of gender based violence had been extended to Rodrigues Island on a pilot basis in 2019. The Member Association also operates peer-educator-led outreach programmes targeting work places, namely: hotels, manufacturing industries, call centres, male-dominated sectors such as transport, police, agriculture and fisheries.   MFPWA has played a critical role in promoting the integration of comprehensive sexuality education into the national school curriculum and its powerful, informed advocacy has been influential in shaping government’s agenda and policies on SRH and population issues. MFPWA partners with and advises government departments which address health, quality of life, women’s rights, child development, family welfare, social security and youth and sports.  MFPWA works with a large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), para-statal and government institutions and international partners like UNFPA, Help Age International and the European Union.   

ACPD is a non-for-profit organization, established in January 1993 that works for improvement of policies, legislation, the right of information and services for issues concerning population and development, including reproductive health. There are four strategic directions of ACPD work:   Advocacy on further improvement of SRHR policies, gender equality including women and youth participation in decision making processes at central and local level. Empowerment of women and youth on their SRHR rights through awareness and education, by promoting gender equality and broad society support Qualitative and accessible integrated services, which are gender sensitive and address women and young people needs ACPD maintains the leadership in promoting the broad partnership and cooperation on issues of SRHR through sustainable programmes and increase number of volunteers and supporters. ACPD is led by a board of recognized experts in the field of SRHR, social issues, gender, migration etc. It has a permanent staff around 15 people, who are qualified specialists. The organization has three multi-functional centres located in (Centre of Albania) Tirana, (South) Vlora and (North) Shkodra with 206 active members and activists. The SRH services include contraceptive care, cervical cancer prevention, HIV rapid test and counselling, pre and post abortion care, pre- and post-natal care, ultrasound examination and counselling, gender based violence counselling, sexual transmitted infections counselling, and relationships counselling and referrals. The organization has delivered a very extensive rights-based and gender-sensitive comprehensive sexuality education for children/young people in formal and informal setting. Approximately 1000 teachers and 1500 pupils are trained on CSE all over the country. ACPD and other NGOs have played an important role in advocating for sexuality education. The ACPD also provides a gateway for dialogue, networking and cooperation among stakeholders and partners on regional, national and local levels.