Member Associations

The Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) was established in 1965 by pioneers in obstetrics and gynaecology in response to increases in maternal, neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity. As the statistics show, Sudan is a country in great need of frontline sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Advocacy, and undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) programmes are critical. The organization has a strong team of health personnel and professional staff that operate 389 service points. These diverse outlets and outreach services are designed to secure the greatest possible access, particularly for vulnerable groups. Outlets include 11 permanent clinics and 4 mobile units, and the organization works in conjunction with 62 associated operations, 60 private physicians, and over 90 other agencies. 158 community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs) provide the essential platform of on-the-ground support which enables SFPA to meet an estimated 64% of the country’s current demand for contraceptive pills. A major priority for SFPA is improving the status of women and enhancing their understanding of their rights. The organization allies SRH closely with development initiatives for women. Economic independence, or the capacity to make a significant contribution to a family’s income, empowers women, and with economic empowerment comes the potential for greater control over reproductive health and family planning. In Sudan (particularly in rural areas) harmful practices such as female genital mutilation are widespread. SFPA is vigorous in combating FGM. SFPA has played a key role in the design, testing and implementation of the HIV and AIDS Stigma Index, and has undertaken critical work in HIV prevention initiatives amongst at-risk groups. It’s a founder member of the Sudan AIDS Network (SAN). It’s highly active as a technical adviser to the government on population policy, and it advocates strenuously for financial and political support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).    

Riksförbundet För Sexuell Upplysning (RFSU) has 17 local branches, 19 member organizations, 1 clinic and 1 'open house' youth clinic. RFSU works extensively in education, campaigning, advocacy, research, training, and in the international sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) arena. The organization has been especially active in the field of counselling for people with learning difficulties, visual impairment and disability, and it runs courses for volunteers working with these groups. RFSU runs seminars for the general public on the pursuit of pleasure, gender roles and male and female language, and clinics for young men, who are generally thought to be overlooked when it comes to talking about their sexuality. These clinics are run by male staff and registered nurses. RFSU conducts outreach activities at summer seaside resorts, music festivals and other youth events. This work is carried out by trained peer educators and cover sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and other SRHR issues. The organization produces a quarterly bulletin which is widely read, especially by the media, and a periodical entitled `Reports on Sexuality and Reproduction'. RFSU's international activities include joint projects with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in Tanzania andZambia, focused on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people. These projects aim to increase knowledge, to promote openness and acceptance of young peoples’ sexual activity, and to improve access to contraceptive services. Other international projects focus on communicating the Swedish experience of sex education, and on providing input into the development of family planning in Russia and the Baltic States. Contacts Website: http://www.rfsu.se/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfsu.se/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RFSU