In December 2007, IPPF ESEAOR received a grant from the Humanitarian and Emergency Health Section of AusAID to manage a 3-year programme that aims to increase access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services for persons surviving crisis and living in post-crisis situations in East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. It is the first of its kind in the region.

Despite its importance in saving and enhancing lives of women and children, SRH is not yet systematically integrated into emergency responses and in the management of post-crisis situations. The SPRINT Initiative aims to address the current through implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRH in crises.

IPPF ESEAOR coordinates the SPRINT Initiative through a newly established secretariat in partnership with AusAID, the University of New South Wales, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Around 84% of the SPRINT budget is allocated to organizational capacity building and implementation of the MISP that is carried out by the secretariat. Other activities such as research, monitoring and evaluation are carried out by University of New South Wales and account for 5% of the total budget. The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance focuses on the advocacy component also through 5% of the budget. Both UNFPA and the Interagency Working Group on Reductive Health in Crisis Situations (IAWG) contribute to the SPRINT Initiative with valuable technical and operational support.

The SPRINT Budget Distibution by Activity


 

The SPRINT initiative aims to increase access to SRH information and services for populations surviving crisis and living in post-crisis situations in ESEAP. This goal will be reached through the following objectives:

1. Increasing the regional capacity of key stakeholders with regard to SRH response in crisis and post-crisis situations;
2. Strengthening the coordination of SRH responses in crisis and post-crisis situations;
3. Raising awareness on the importance of addressing SRH in crisis and post-crisis situations at the national, regional and international levels;
4. Responding in a timely fashion to SRH needs in crisis situations;
5. Enhancing access to SRH information and services for populations surviving crisis and living in protracted post-crisis situations.

[1] The term “affected populations” refers to groups of persons who are affected by natural or man-made crises and, as a result, have become internally displaced or refugees and/or living in refugee-like situations.