SPRINT is an inter-agency initiative which involves the following key partners:
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
The School of Public Health and Community medicine at the UNSW has engaged four PhD students to research different components of the SPRINT Initiative to establish a regional body of evidence to inform policy and practice in relation to SRH in crisis and post-crisis situations. This is in addition to the regular monitoring and evaluation activities carried out by the SPRINT secretariat and their local partners. The four areas of research include an analysis of training effectiveness; an exploration of organisational change as a traditional development agency moves into humanitarian response; an assessment of the key factors that support MISP implementation and the mechanisms to hold agencies accountable; and a study on integrating peacebuilding principles into SRH interventions in protracted conflict settings. Findings from the research are discussed and integrated to improve training, advocacy and implementation strategies as well as organizational systems to support the goals of the Initiative. The feedback loop of the research to improve SPRINT’s strategies, programming, and curriculum is essential to the success of SPRINT.
Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA)
ARHA's mission is to promote public support for enhanced sexual and reproductive health in Australia and internationally, and to promote the advancement of the status of women and girls. It works towards its goals through networking with parliamentarians and government departments, organising seminars and workshops, production of education materials and building alliances with other interested parties.
One of ARHA’s primary roles is to provide secretariat services for the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (PGPD) which formed in 1995, to support and promote the Program of Action (PoA) from the International Conference on Population and Development, (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. The activities of the MISP and the objectives of SPRINT are essential to the ICPD PoA. ARHA works in close collaboration with the PGPD to promote awareness and implementation of the MISP in recognition of a commitment to ensuring the attainment of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services by all in the region.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The United Nations Population Fund promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. In humanitarian settings, UNFPA strives to protect the sexual and reproductive health of communities in crisis. It provides assistance to stricken communities as they move beyond the acute crisis and enter the reconstruction phase. UNFPA addresses urgent reproductive health needs that are sometimes forgotten, through supporting the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and the provision of essential reproductive health supplies.
The Inter-agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations
Formerly the Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations, the IAWG formed in 1995 at an inter-agency symposium where over 50 governments, non-government, universities and UN agencies committed themselves to strengthening reproductive health services to refugees. Since its formation, the IAWG has met annually (with the exception of 2005 and 2009) to exchange information, identify challenges, gain from the experience of others, build partnerships and collectively work toward the institutionalisation of reproductive health care for refugees and internally displaced persons. In 1999 IAWG developed and distributed the seminal resource, The Inter-agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations. In 2010, a revised version of the Field Manual , was produced and is currently being field tested.
Membership in IAWG is open to all people interested to actively contribute in the advancement of the sexual and reproductive health of women, men and youth in emergency situations. For more information, including resources and how to join IAWG click here
This project is made possible by generous funding from the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID.