Background
The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Champions Liberia (SRHRCL) is a network of Policy advocates, health practitioners, human rights defenders and sexual minority who are inspired to lead strategic policy advocacy towards improved health environment where everyone can have access to affordable reproductive healthcare services in Liberia. The Network also promotes capacity building to enhance the intervention of youth movements in policy making process at national and community levels.
SRHR CHAMPIONS LIBERIA aspires to improve the living conditions of key population mainly marginalized women and LGBTQ+ community who infrequently access reproductive health care due to discriminatory health policy, systemic traditional and social biases, and the lack of gender transformative approach in SRHR services. In 2019, we operated as a loosed social justice group leading critical national-level policy advocacy and mass sit-in actions, which resulted to policy reforms such as; 1) Declaring Rape a national emergency, 2) Government apportioned US$1.5 million to combat sexual and gender based violence across Liberia 3) National Gender Policy formulation 4) Domestic Violence Act, 5) FGM Bill of Liberia, and as well as supporting the government of Liberia National partnered SGBV Road Map through the Liberian Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection. The Network was founded in 2022 by Titus B. Pakalah who is now the Chair-person. The network is supervised by a board of technical human right and Public Policy actors whose commitment have driven incredible impact in the field of policy advocacy towards improved SRH around Africa and the World. Additionally, those constituting the Board are also experts in different fields whose disciplines are interlinked with reproductive justice such as research and health data management, climate change, migration and conflict management.
SRHR CHAMPIONS LIBERIA comprises of diverse and dynamic group of competent young people from different background. The network has executive members excluding the leadership of the board of directors. Every member has specific qualities that has helped to sustain and run the network. From health to management, nursing to administration, social sciences and information technology. The team is well-equipped with skills in writing grant proposals and applications, planning, implementation and monitoring of programs, report writing, research, M&E, coordination & management and innovations and application of technology. The network has over the years built strong partnership with higher learning institutions, governmental agencies and women led organizations such as; The Senate Committee on Health, LISGIS, Liberian Ministry of Gender Children and social protection, Ministry of Justice, March for Justice, Alliance for Peace, Justice and Human Rights, and the United Methodist University’s department of Public Administration and Biology. These partnerships have fostered innovative policy engagements among stakeholders and decision makers.
Our Generic Focus:
2.1 Mission
To improve the quality of reproductive health rights through policy advocacy, Research and building a sustainable and inclusive environment for youth and vulnerable women and children.
2.2 Aim
Our aim is to provide capacity building skills in strategic policy engagement for grass root movements and/ or organization like to ensure credible and evidence-based approach and outcome to addressing reproductive justice for key population (LGBTQ+, vulnerable women and excluded groups). We plan to achieve our aim by developing, testing and delivering evidence-based, feasible and cost-effective intervention relating to professional and social development with greater involvement of youth Programme and communities.
Network Objective:
The main objective is to contribute to improving effective maternal Health outcomes and access to safe abortion through strengthening policies and/ or legislations on sexual and reproductive health rights and its implementation, through evidence-based and cost-effective intervention. Our specific objectives are:
- To Promote reproductive justice advocacy for women and pregnant adolescents throughout Liberia’s political sub-divisions (counties) through policy engagement,
- To promote quality research and research communications towards the development of evidence-based policy and practice in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights;
- To review and analyze policies and programmes effectiveness at local, and national level and understand their implications on LGBTQ+ and key population;
- To ensure universal access to healthcare through raising awareness on different SHRH needs for women and adolescents;
- To Contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal on the eliminating of AIDS, maternal mortality, harmful practices and gender based violence;
- To drive a cultural of inclusivity through embracing evolving and different sexual orientations and identities among different key groups;
- Promoting comprehensive sexuality education in Liberia’s formal educational system and traditional environments;
4 Scope of Work And Target
The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Champions of Liberia is an independent, non-partisan non-profitable network and non-governmental body that is concerned with implementing non-profitable social work in the field of youth, women, education, health, environment and economic development. We promote the rights of vulnerable group through an inclusive work environments and integrating them into the construct of societal progress. One of our primary goals is to support effective policy implementation through evidence based research approach and capacity building.
5 Working modalities
SRHR Champions Liberia achieves its programmes’ outcomes by implementing through partnership, grants, sub-grants and self-funded projects. Our context of strategic work modalities most often involves the participation of key population, local and traditional stakeholders and specific target groups who hold influence and interest levels in Policy making and implementation process. We work in collaboration with Government’s National Development Agenda, Specific International Development corporation, and international gender policies that promote SRHR services using Human rights based approach. Moreover, we collaborate with INGOs, local governance, private professional development, research scientists, care providers and teaching institutions, young professional organization and corporate sectors for the effective implementation of programmes. Our current practices of implementing programs and activities include getting approval from our chair-person and donor. After the approval, inception meeting is conducted with all relevant stakeholders and partners to inform and communicate about the programs. Likewise, communication and coordination are done with local level stakeholders and local partners. Only after approval and coordination with all stakeholders, the program/activities are implemented in the concerned areas. After the program implementation, program evaluation and feedback are collected. Necessary reporting is conducted and the programme comes to the end in the closure phase.
Coordination: At the policy level, SRHR Champions is working closely with the Liberian Senate committee chair on Health for the passage of the Draft Public Health Bill. In the spirit of effective advocacy, regular policy meetings are usually conducted with public entities and policy actors to identify key stakeholders and build synergy.
Local government bodies and health authorities: SRHR Champions has been coordinating with central and local government bodies and major stakeholder in Public Health Management such as municipalities, Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and the Nurses Association of Liberia. These authorities are informed about programs and activities of the SRHR Champions and often solicit their involvement in planning and executing project-related activities. Likewise, different health institutions are also involved in health related programs.
6 Geographical coverage the SRHR Champions Liberia is legally registered in the Republic of Liberia under the Liberian government and authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Liberia Business Registry to operate its programs in all fifteen counties in Liberia. We work across Liberia to implement different research projects, capacity building and advocacy engagement. The direct implementation of this network is also programme-based activity, operational research, capacity building . SRHR champions has working partners in Bong County, Montserrado, Lofa, Nimba and Margibi. These partners work in the health and human rights fields. To implement any programs in the districts, SRHR Champions has the capacity to engage and mobilize individual as well as the organizational networks to implement the programs. Many programs have been conducted in similar manner in the past and hence we would continue the similar modality in implementing activities across different districts and counties.
9 Working Partners
Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, Senate Committee on Health, Rural Women Network, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Paramount Young Women Initiative, Front Page Africa, Focus Community Health, National Traditional Council of Liberia Head, Chief Zanzan Karwa, Media institutions ( Kool FM, Women TV, ECOWAS Radio and FrontPage Africa), Members from the Liberia National Physician Assistants Association, Liberia Lab Association, Liberia X-ray Technician Association, Liberia Operating Room Technician Association, Liberia, Nurses Association, Liberia Midwifery Association, Liberia Private health facilities Association, Pharmacist Association of Liberia, Liberia, Respiratory therapist Association, Ministry of Health, Liberia Medical and Dental Council, Public Health Institute Liberia, United Methodist University medical students, University of Liberia, African Methodist, University, Adventist University of West Africa and counties health team officers.
10 Financial Support
Our SRHR Champions have been self-funded in crucial advocacy and research activities. we are also opened to receiving grant that will enable us expand beyond our geographical limit in Liberia. Additionally, dues from within our work force of passionate have kept the us actively engaging.
11 Impact
Our activities have impacted two thousand individuals, institution, and networks, while indirectly reaching the fifteen counties in Liberia. We have achieved the following policy outcome in Liberia:
1) Declaring Rape a national emergency, 2) Government apportioned US$1.5 million to combat sexual and gender based violence across Liberia 3) National Gender Policy formulation 4) Domestic Violence Act, 5) FGM Bill of Liberia, and as well as supporting the government of Liberia National partnered SGBV Road Map through the Liberian Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection
11 Leadership
Titus B. Pakalah Founder/ Chair Person
Zaiah Flumo Co-Chair
Betty Sia Sessay Communication Manager
Betty Love Sarpleh Advocacy Manager
Isaac Barcon Program Manager
Adihmun Kanneh Communication Officer
Zenkins Mulbah Finance Manager
Khalifa Donor- M&E Officer
Victorial Tulay-Advocacy Officer