Member Associations

Guinea-Bissau is one tenth the size of its neighbour Guinea-Conakry, but its people suffer equally distressing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems. The Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar was established in 1993 to address the major issue in family planning: equipping couples to make active, informed choices about the number of children they would have, and when they would have them.   Since then, the Member Association’s work has expanded to embrace a full range of SRH concerns. It provides young people with information, education and communication (IEC) and behaviour change communication (BCC) around sexual and reproductive health; it works on the prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) includind HIV; it provides post-abortion care and support; it provides care for victims of gender-based violence (GBV); and it advocates strongly at government level for legislation to prevent GBV. Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar achieved these results through a small but committed team that operate over hundred service points, including static clinics and community-based service points. Despite the relatively small size of the organization, it is growing rapidly with strong central support from IPPF, influential government partnerships, and backing from non-governmental organizations including UNFPA.

Though there is still a long way to go with regard to the risk of maternal and child mortality, Egypt’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) statistics are improving year on year and the Egyptian Family Planning Association (EFPA) has been at the heart of driving improvements. It has done so through service delivery (complementing government services) and a concerted programme of advocacy to high-level policy makers. EFPA is the Egyptian government’s primary partner in SRH, and it co-ordinates the delivery of family planning services by other voluntary organizations. Additionally, EFPA is a lead partner in the National Population Commission’s ongoing initiative to increase contraceptive prevalence across the country. A critical part of the organization’s work is the provision of information, education and communication (IEC) programmes for the general public, many of which (particularly amongst young people) are run on a peer-to-peer basis. Emergency intervention to prevent reported early marriage cases is a key priority. EFPA has a particular interest in the socio-economic aspects of family planning and promotes activity designed to enhance women’s capacity for income generation. In 1972, EFPA set up the Alexandria Training Centre for family planning professionals, which it continues to run. Thanks to the EFPA, demand for SHR services by young people has increased, as has male condom use. EPFA successfully advocated for the issuance of 2 landmark legal codes criminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM), and raising the legal age of marriage. EFPA is a strong, well-established, transparent and competent association. It is known for its capacity to implement quality projects. EFPA enjoys the trust and confidence of many partners and donor agencies. These include, but are not limited to, UNFPA, UNIFEM, FHI, CEOSS, Y-PEER, the Regional Training Centre, the National Population Council, and the National Council for Child and Mother. Contacts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EFPA.eg Twitter: https://twitter.com/efpa_