Problem Analysis:

After two decades of war and ethnic conflict, Afghanistan now has an elected government.  Much needed policies are being drawn out to mainstream rights, and adopt measures to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the family, especially of mothers and children. With the international community eager to support this socio-economic reconstruction process, it is critical to advocate at the international, national, regional and grassroots levels for issues related to reproductive health and rights. However, lack of data required for evidence-based advocacy, large mass media-shadow areas, and deeply engrained gender stereotypes are proving to be major obstacles. In order to roll out effective advocacy initiatives, it is important to first build the necessary skills, data-banks and alternate media networks.

Strategic Direction:

AFGA will promote Reproductive health and Rights, including for young people through involving policy makers, media and influential people in the community.

Goal:

1. To increase programmatic and financial commitment for reproductive and rights initiatives in Afghanistan.

Objective:

1. To advocate with government, non-government agencies and opinion leaders for promotion of reproductive health and rights.

                                                                          
Activities:

1. Map organizations working in the area of reproductive health in Afghanistan
2. Build partnerships with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs to increase government commitment to reproductive health and rights.
3. Conduct a baseline study on access to reproductive health services and share findings with the various stakeholders. 
4. Organize seminars, roundtables and/or workshops to mobilize a range of stakeholders, including policy makers, donors and international organizations, community leaders., media, and opinion leaders, to mainstream reproductive health and rights into the country’s development agenda.
5. Build capacity of AFGA staff and volunteers, through orientations and workshops, to effectively advocate for reproductive health-related issues.
6. Develop IEC/BCC material on Reproductive Health and Right with close collaboration of line ministries and partner organization.

Outcomes:

1. Established strategic partnerships between AFGA, and policy makers, media personnel, government and civil society organizations to reproductive health interventions in Afghanistan more focused, comprehensive, sustainable, rights-based and gender sensitive.  
2. Enhanced capacity for AFGA to advocate for reproductive health and rights with the strength of strategic partnerships, evidence-based advocacy, and clearly accepted role in the development sector.

Indicators:

• Number of partnerships formalized with organizations that play a strategic role in mainstreaming rights-based and gender-sensitive reproductive health into the country’s development agenda.
• An MoU with an established organization, agency or network that provides access to a large sphere of influence ideal for to disseminating information and/or advocating at the grassroots level.
• Number of media coverage on various issues and activities related to reproductive health and rights in Afghanistan.
• Number of documents of other development sector organizations quoting information and data from the baseline report distributed by AFGA.
• Increased policy and budgetary commitment to reproductive health at the national level.
• Number of IEC/BCC materials developed on Reproductive Health and Right.