ACCESS – Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable SRHR

Reproductive Health Female Volunteer, Gatlang, northern Nepal

Working in consortia to develop a set of evidence-based tools and models for an improved, community-led SRHR response

Ensuring that all people are able to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) by 2030 requires progress on reaching the most under-served and marginalised populations.

The ACCESS consortium brings together six partners uniquely positioned to co-create innovative strategies to meet some of the most pressing challenges in a world increasingly affected by natural disasters, prolonged conflict, economic and political crises, and disease outbreaks.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an example which is having a devastating impact around the world, adding to the existing difficulties experienced by women and girls and marginalised populations, and weakening already fragile health systems.

By working with diverse communities in diverse settings in Lebanon, Mozambique, Nepal and Uganda, ACCESS will co-design and test innovative solutions that enable the most marginalised and under-served people to access comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services.

Led by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the consortium is comprised of Frontline AIDS, Internews, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Women’s Refugee Commission and The Open University. 

By leveraging each partner’s comparative strengths, ACCESS will develop a set of transferable, evidence-based tools and models that can be adapted and transferred to a range of settings for an improved, community-led SRHR response.

The Open University will be leading the capacity building and learning work of the consortium. We plan to take a co-creation, participatory and de-colonising approach to knowledge creation and knowledge sharing with local partners and communities. Over the three year implementation phase of the project we will publish a range of learning resources under Creative Commons licence that can be adapted and transferred to a range of settings. 

After a productive period of co-creation with the consortium partners and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the implementation of this UK Aid Connect programme commenced in October 2020.