

| 31 March 2016
Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone
The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPASL), established in 1959, works on a range of serious sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues to improve people's health and quality of life. A key focus is to improve access to maternal health care, to reduce the risk of maternal and infant death. PPASL accesses the community through 5 service points, 12 workplace outreach projects, and 3 youth centres, via a 40-strong permanent staff team, backed by nearly 300 volunteers, 9 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 150. There is a 90% prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country, and finding ways to handle the attendant psychological and physical trauma is one of the organization’s major challenges. Much of PPASL’s work is directed towards behaviour change communication (BCC) among community leaders, police and army personnel and Muslim and Christian groups. Safe motherhood, family planning, and the sensitisation of young people to SRH concerns are also central to the direct services which PPASL provides. The Member Association works in partnership with government health and development ministries and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Hospitals. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners include the Reproductive Health Service, CHASL, MSSL, National AIDS Secretariat/SHARP and the Marie Stopes Society. PPASL receives financial support from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Plan International, MOHS & RH UNIT, Marie Stopes Society, SL Red Cross Society and Action Aid. Contacts Website: www.ppasl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/454639337890032/

| 31 March 2016
Albanian Center for Population and Development
The Albanian Center for Population and Development runs family planning clinics in Tirana and Lezha, and has branches in 6 districts of the country. The organization trains health personnel in reproductive health, post-delivery contraception and safe abortion techniques. FPAA also trains pharmacists and sex educators, and runs information, education and communication (IEC) programmes and activities in conjunction what the Albanian Foundation for Civil Society. The IEC work focuses on sensitising the general public to family planning issues and techniques. There’s also a strong strand devoted to educating young people. FPAA has significant influence with government officials and policy makers working in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) sector, and has played a major role in drafting the country’s reproductive health legislation. The association also allies itself closely with women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for the delivery of improved services.