SAT-Moving the Needle:Gender Transformative SRHR Systems in Africa

The Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka, through the Regional SRHR Team, has received a funding proposal from the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Africa Trust (SAT) to implement an intervention, "Moving the Needle: Gender Transformative SRHR Systems in Africa 2018-2024" whose overall goal is women, girls and adolescents better able to exercise their SRHR. The following outcomes have been identified as key for the attainment of this overall objective:1. Increased access to gender transformative SRHR systems;2. Improved environment for SRHR and gender equality;3. Increased leadership of adolescent girls, youth, women in SRHR systems; and4. Increased utilization of gender focused data.SAT was established in 1990 to support community-based organizations in the strengthening of HIV and AIDS programmes. Since then, the organization has transformed its programming activities to focus on SRHR in Eastern and Southern Africa with over 100 communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and activists working for universal SRHR for girls, adolescents and young women in inclusive, equitable systems for health. Sweden's collaboration with SAT dates to 2006 when the organization was provided with a small grant for its HIV and AIDS programmes. In 2012, Sweden, through the Regional SRHR Team, signed a three-year agreement amounting to SEK 60MSEK for core support towards its 2012-2017 Strategy whose vision was "Resilient communities across Southern Africa enjoy good health and well-being free of stigma and discrimination." This was to be achieved by building the capacity of supported communities in the areas of youth prevention, women’s health, integrated SRHR and HIV programming and dialogue on health. The agreement was later extended for two years (2016-2017) with an additional 46 MSEK. SAT's Regional Office is in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it is also registered as a regional NGO. It also operates 4 Country Offices in Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In terms of governance and management, the SAT Board holds overall responsibility for the Regional Office as well as the Country Offices. A senior management team comprising the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Finance Director (who also reports to the Finance Audit and Risk Committee (FARCO)), Programmes Director and the four Country Directors oversees the day-to-day operations. For the implementation of this intervention, SAT will work directly with 35 partners across the ESA region, classified as collaboration, advocacy, innovation, or data partners. As a criterion for selection, SAT has placed more emphasis on the organization’s capacity to make regional contributions and impact. The implementing partners identified to date include African Youth and Adolescent Network on Populations and Development (AfriYAN), Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Service Organizations (EANNASO) and Rozaria Memorial Trust. SAT will also collaborate with a range of regional organizations with common agendas around SRHR or putting girls at the centre, such as the African Union and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). To complement the regional efforts, various national-level interventions will be carried out in SAT's Country Offices.The funding application is for core support amounting to 70 MSEK for the period 2018-2021. SAT has so far secured US$ 7.5 million core funding from the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). About 12% of the funding from Sweden will be forwarded as sub-grants to various implementing partners. This grant, and the amount anticipated from Sweden will together make up 85% of the strategy budget for the first four years. As part of the appraisal process, SAT was requested to present mitigation measures it would take to address the funding gap, and a revised budget reflecting a reduced shortfall has since been submitted.