Strengthening Rwanda SRHR CSO Network
Project Overview:
The “Strengthening Rwanda SRHR CSO Network” project was designed to foster a robust advocacy network among Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)-focused Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media professionals in Rwanda. Launched with the main goal of linking and empowering these entities, the project aimed to enhance advocacy efforts and promote SRHR awareness nationwide.
Objectives Achieved:
- Enhanced capacity and leadership of CSOs through training:
- Sixty staff members from 30 CSOs participated in comprehensive training sessions. Topics covered included organisational capacity building, leadership development, advocacy strategies, and effective project management.
- Participants reported significant improvements in their ability to strategise and implement impactful SRHR initiatives within their organisations.
- Established a network of CSOs for SRHR advocacy:
- The project successfully established a collaborative platform where CSOs could share resources, exchange knowledge, and coordinate advocacy efforts.
- Partnerships and alliances formed among CSOs contributed to stronger advocacy campaigns and increased collective impact on SRHR issues.
- Promoted experience sharing among CSOs:
- Workshops, forums, and peer-learning sessions facilitated meaningful exchanges among CSOs. Participants shared successful SRHR interventions, discussed challenges faced, and brainstormed innovative solutions.
- This experience-sharing fostered a supportive environment conducive to continuous learning and improvement within the SRHR sector.
- Raised awareness about contraception and family planning:
- A series of mass media campaigns were launched, reaching diverse audiences across Rwanda. These campaigns effectively promoted SRHR awareness, emphasising contraception and family planning as key components.
- Thirty-five media professionals were trained on SRHR communication strategies, equipping them with skills to accurately convey SRHR information and contribute to informed public discourse.
Impact:
- The project celebrated World Contraception Day significantly, raising public awareness about contraception and family planning through targeted campaigns.
- Collectively, the project’s initiatives have contributed to a heightened understanding of SRHR issues among the public, leading to improved access to SRHR services and informed decision-making.