Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy

About

History of the Network

In September 2015, 193 governments formally adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response, governments worldwide were tasked with developing and implementing new policies to achieve these ambitious goals. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) sat at the intersection of SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives), SDG5 (achieving gender equality), and SDG10 (reducing inequalities), while also contributing directly to many other goals. Consequently, SRHR held a central position in these new policies.

The development of these policies required a robust evidence base to ensure their adequacy and effectiveness. Furthermore, their successful implementation depended on reliable monitoring and follow-up by trained professionals with the necessary expertise. Regular knowledge exchange and the sharing of experiences among diverse stakeholders—especially academics and policymakers—and across countries was therefore seen as crucial for refining approaches and enhancing policies.

To address these needs, Ghent University established the Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy, as one of the university's International Thematic Networks (ITNs) in December 2016. At its inception, the network comprised 16 members. Its primary aim is to build a strong evidence base to inform and shape SRHR policies. The network fosters collaboration to generate and disseminate knowledge that supports evidence-based decision-making by bringing together researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Through its work, the network seeks to bridge the gap between research and policy, ensuring that SRHR policies are grounded in science and adapted to the diverse contexts in which they are implemented.

Mission, vision, focus and approach:

Mission:

ANSER is committed to building a strong evidence base to inform and shape SRHR policies.  By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, ANSER bridges the gap between science and policy through research, policy engagement, and training. 

Vision:

ANSER envisions a world where researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders collaborate seamlessly, leveraging their collective knowledge and skills to ensure evidence-informed sexual and reproductive health policies that enhance lives across diverse contexts.

Thematic focus:

ANSER takes on a comprehensive approach to SRHR policies, including topics such as maternal health, contraception and family planning, safe abortion, SRHR of vulnerable groups, HIV and STI’s, sexual health and wellbeing, gender rights & gender based violence and SRHR monitoring & evaluation.

Approach:

ANSER helps building evidence based policies that support sexual and reproductive rights for everyone, everywhere through:

  • Education: Improve master students’ knowledge on translating SRHR evidence into policy
  • Research: Improve researchers’ knowledge on translating evidence into policy and increase SRHR research outputs that are directly relevant to society.
  • Service to society: Improve policy makers’ and professionals’ knowledge of SRHR related evidence and increase the use of it by policy makers when developing policies. 

Structure

 

ANSER Secretariat

ICRH (Ghent University) acts as the central coordinator to support members in setting up collaborations, steer the direction of the network and implement and coordinate the activities and planning. The secretariat is composed of:

  • ANSER Director: Prof. Olivier Degomme
  • ANSER coordinator: Emilie Peeters

General Assembly

All ANSER member institutions come together in an annual meeting that approves financial reports, observes general outputs of the network and identifies and reports on priority activities to keep on track with the planned outcomes. All individuals from an ANSER member institution are welcome to attend the General Assembly meeting.

Management Committee

Five promoters of full members, one promoter of an associated member, the network Director and the network Coordinator ensure direction of the network, overview activities and help to explore opportunities to find financial support.  The members of the Management Committee are appointed by the General Assembly. The ANSER Management Committee is composed of:

  • Prof. Elin Larsson (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden)
  • Simukai Shamu (Foundation for Professional Development, South Africa)
  • Prof. Sonia Dias (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal)
  • Prof. Tammary Esho (University of Nairobi, Kenya)
  • James Munyao Kingoo (PhD representative, The Technical University of Kenya)
  • Prof. Olivier Degomme (ICRH, Ghent University, Belgium)
  • Emilie Peeters (ICRH, Ghent University, Belgium)

Members

ANSER consist of two types of members:

  • Full members: academic institutions with an interest in SRHR policies
  • Associated members: non-profit organisations involved in SRHR policy work with an interest in research

A full list of the members can be found  here. 

Ad Hoc Working Groups

ANSER member institutions come together to work on specific activities in smaller groups based on their interest. The Ad Hoc Working Groups are set up around activities decided upon by the General Assembly.  

Stakeholder Meetings

ANSER organises on an annual basis a meeting between its members and a wide range of SRHR stakeholders. The aim is twofold: to inform the non-academic stakeholders about recent evidence generated by ANSER and to seek feedback by the stakeholders on SRHR evidence needs in society to guide the ANSER work.