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This document, a result of a mapping study undertaken in Nine countries in South Asia, showcases the dynamism of youth work and SRHR work in the region. It contains a purposive sample of 68 organisations/ networks working either on issues of SRHR, youth development and participation or both, with full recognition that the two are intrinsically linked. The data presented in the directory is information gathered either through primary data shared by the respective organisations/networks and/or supported by desk research. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

IPPF South Asia Region implemented a program advocating for the integration of SRH and HIV in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at policy, system and service delivery level through its Member Associations in the respective countries. The uniqueness of the program is its multi-stakeholder, the multi-layered approach promoting the concept of SRHR HIV linkages and integration at various levels. It facilitated in building up cross learning platforms and partnerships with different stakeholders, innovative integrated service approaches through a provision of small grants and developing a series of knowledge products which are useful for both replication and sustainability. SRH HIV Integration captures the process and the achievements of the past four years of the programme which also includes the learning and the way forward.

IPPF South Asia implemented an advocacy initiative to promote the integration of sexual reproductive health (SRH) and HIV in Global Fund Mechanism and country health system in eight South Asian Countries. The eight Member Associations were able to reach approximately 150 CSOs in eight countries over the period of four years. MAs also engaged with a diverse group of stakeholders which include Government, Media, Youth, vulnerable key population, Parliamentarians and CCM members of Global Fund. In South Asia HIV prevalence is concentrated but vulnerability is high in all the eight project implementing countries. Through this project initiative, an effort was given to enhance understanding of relevant stakeholders on the benefits of the integrated response to SRH and HIV concerning to both prevention and treatment.

Saving lives is the core of the SPRINT Initiative (Sexual and reproductive health PRogramme IN crisis and post-crisis siTuations) The initiative was designed to address gaps in the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) an international standard of care for Reproductive Health which is a set of priority activities to be implemented at the onset of an emergency.  The SPRINT Initiative provides one of the most important aspects of humanitarian assistance that is often forgotten when disaster and conflicts strike. IPPF-SPRINT ensures access to essential lifesaving SRH services for women, men and children in times of crises, a time when services are most needed yet are not prioritised or recognised by key humanitarian responders, IPPF-SPRINT delivers practical solutions for girls and  women, trains humanitarian workers to deal with pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health and the aftermath of rape and violence.

April 25 was a regular day for Parvati. She had delivered a baby girl merely 26 days ago. She was busy with feeding the baby and taking care of her. She had just sat down to catch a breath; suddenly the floor began to shake. Her first instinct as mother was to grab her baby girl. Shouting to her husband, to get out of the house, she headed to the stairs to reach the ground floor from her first floor residence. Her husband took the infant from her so that she could make her way down the stairs. When the husband wife reached the flight of stairs they found the way blocked by the rubble. They ran back the flight of stairs to the roof, gained access to the neighbour’s house and ran down their staircase to safety. Parvati, infant and her husband lived in the field under the tarpaulin. Having barely escaped with their lives, Parvati did not have anything with her. She borrowed clothes and blankets from other people to keep her baby warm. Feeling anxious for her baby’s life, recovering from the child birth and reeling under the difficult living conditions, it has been a harrowing time for her. When IPPF, through SPRINT initiative organised a medical camp with the support of Family Planning Association of Nepal, she was able to come to the camp and get the post-natal check-up done. The doctor at the camp prescribed multi vitamins and iron folic tablets to build her strength up post-delivery. She also received a dignity kit for her use. “In these difficult times, any bit of help is welcome. I’m very happy that at the camp people have actually thought about a woman’s needs, especially a new mother’s needs. You know in our society we feel shy to say what we want and we adjust. I’m really grateful that for once, my requirements have been considered,” says Parvarti. *Dignity kit contain standard hygiene and protection items which are culturally-appropriate

 “People used to shout at me when I was distributing condoms. ‘You’re not a good girl,  you’re not of good character’ they’d say. They called me many bad things.”  “But later on, after getting married, whenever I visited those families they came and said:  ‘you did a really good job. We realise that now and feel sorry for what we said before.”  Rita Chawal is recalling her time as a volunteer for the Family Planning Association of  Nepal (FPAN), Nepal’s largest family planning organisation. Her experiences point to the crucial importance of family planning education and support in Nepal, a country still affected by severe maternal and infant mortality rates and poor access to contraception.  Poor government services, remote communities, a failing transport network and strict patriarchal structures can make access to family planning and health services a  challenge for many people across the country. Services like FPAN’s are vital to reach as many people as possible. Rita is now 32 years old and herself a client of FPAN. She lives with her husband and six-year-old son in Bhaktapur, an ancient temple city, 15 kilometres from the centre of Kathmandu. Before getting married, she spent 10 years working as a family planning youth volunteer for FPAN, running classes on sexual health, safe abortion and contraception. Her time at the organisation set her in good stead for married life: after marrying she approached FPAN right away to get family planning support, antenatal classes, and, later on, contraception. “I had all this knowledge, so I decided to come and take the services,” she says. “I found that the services here were very good.” But Rita is far from the norm. She shudders when she recalls the abuse she received from neighbours and her community when she worked distributing contraception. Stigma still surrounds contraception in many places: for an unmarried young woman like Rita to be distributing condoms was seen as immoral by many, particularly older, people, even in an urban setting like Bhaktapur. Stigma can be even more extreme in rural areas. Across Nepal, rumours about the side effects of different contraceptive devices are also a problem. Attitudes are slowly changing. Rita says people now come to her whenever they have a family planning problem. “I have become a role model for the community,” she says. She herself is now using the contraceptive implant, a decision she arrived at after discussing different options with FPAN volunteers. She has tried different methods. After her son’s birth, she began using the contraceptive injection. “After the injection, I shifted to oral pills for six months, but that didn’t suit me,” she says. “It gave me a headache and made me feel dizzy. So I had a consultation with FPAN and they advised me to use the implant. I use it now and feel really good and safe. It’s been five years now.” This kind of advice and support can transform the lives of entire families in Nepal. Reductions in maternal and infant mortality, sexual health, female empowerment and dignity, and access to safe abortion are just a few of the life-changing benefits that organisations like FPAN can bring.

The Guttmacher Institute and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) today released Spanish and French language versions of Demystifying Data: A Guide to Using Evidence to Improve Young People’s Sexual Health and Rights. The publication, which is also available in English, is designed to be a resource for advocates, sexuality educators, young people, service providers and others working to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people around the world. It contains a wealth of data on young people’s sexual health and rights in 30 countries and offers guidance on how to use those data to advocate for better programs and improved education and services. The guide highlights 70 key indicators on issues that include sexual activity, marriage and contraceptive use. Each indicator is defined and discussed in terms of how it can be applied in the context of advocacy, service provision and sexuality education. The data featured in the guide come from nationally representative surveys on sexual and reproductive health and were the latest available at the time of writing (i.e., the data span the survey years 2002 through 2010-2011). National-level data are provided for each country so that users can understand what is happening in their country and easily compare it to others in their region. By region, the countries covered are: Africa—Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe Asia—Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam Europe—Albania, Moldova and Ukraine Latin America and the Caribbean—Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. Data from the Dominican Republic, for instance, show that 88% of boys and 90% of girls attend primary school, but that just 38% and 53%, respectively, attend secondary school. Thus, policymakers and youth advocates could use these data to show why it is critical to deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights information when young people still attend primary school. This would enable boys and girls to learn how to avoid unintended pregnancy and STIs, and how to cultivate healthy intimate relationships before most begin having sex. IPPF and Guttmacher work in all of the above world regions to increase public awareness about sexual and reproductive health issues and to counter misinformation with sound scientific evidence. The Spanish and French versions of this guide take another step toward that goal by reaching out to a wider audience of stakeholders to promote better policies, service delivery and sexuality education.