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.

The Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF) was founded in 1971. The organization is actively promoting a national population policy, and does so through advocacy with political and religious leaders. This is complemented by a committed programme of information, education and communication (IEC) within the community designed to enhance understanding of the benefits of careful child spacing and contraception, in terms of health and personal welfare, and economic security and stability. There is a strong focus on sensitizing men with regard to gender issues, in order to improve women’s status.   AMPF operates a large and successful network of hundreds of service points, including permanent clinics, mobile units, and community-based distributors/services (CDBs/CBSs).   Website: www.ampf.org.ma