Information folder on TMEP (please print and fold for easier ... - RFSU
Information folder on TMEP (please print and fold for easier ... - RFSU
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<br />
Q<br />
A<br />
Q<br />
A<br />
Q<br />
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Q<br />
A<br />
Why do we need the <strong>TMEP</strong> project <strong>on</strong> engaging men?<br />
Women are not well in<strong>for</strong>med of their rights <strong>and</strong> many<br />
of their sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health (SRH) needs are<br />
not met.<br />
So why does <strong>TMEP</strong> focus <strong>on</strong> men, rather than women?<br />
How does that make sense?<br />
Ef<strong>for</strong>ts to empower women, increase their use of services,<br />
<strong>and</strong> improve their SRH are undermined by the<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s of men. Without addressing masculinity <strong>and</strong><br />
its influence <strong>on</strong> sexual relati<strong>on</strong>ships, SRH <strong>and</strong> gender<br />
equality, the success of ef<strong>for</strong>ts to promote the rights <strong>and</strong><br />
empowerment of women <strong>and</strong> girls is limited. In many<br />
cases, men have been recognized as the key problem<br />
when it comes to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted<br />
infecti<strong>on</strong>s including HIV, sexual harassment <strong>and</strong><br />
gender-based violence.<br />
Do you know that this approach works? If you focus <strong>on</strong><br />
men, do women really benefit?<br />
Yes. There is a growing body of evidence that‚ ´male<br />
involvement` projects can have a positive impact. <strong>RFSU</strong><br />
experience with YMEP proved that access to SRH including<br />
HIV <strong>and</strong> AIDS by men equally increase access by<br />
women. Increased awareness of SRH rights by young<br />
men also c<strong>on</strong>tributed to the reducti<strong>on</strong> of gender based<br />
violence in schools <strong>and</strong> incidence unplanned pregnancies<br />
Where is <strong>TMEP</strong> working? Who are you working with?<br />
<strong>TMEP</strong> is implemented in Singida <strong>and</strong> Rukwa. Th local<br />
implementing partners are Health Acti<strong>on</strong>s Promoti<strong>on</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> (HAPA) in Singida <strong>and</strong> Resource Oriented<br />
Development Initiative (RODI) in Rukwa. At nati<strong>on</strong>al level<br />
the projects communicati<strong>on</strong>s work is delivered through a<br />
collaborati<strong>on</strong> with Femina. The project’s advocacy work<br />
is in partrnership with a coaliti<strong>on</strong> of like-minded organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The Swedish Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>for</strong> Sexuality Educati<strong>on</strong> (<strong>RFSU</strong>)<br />
With over 75 years of experience <strong>RFSU</strong> is the leading organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
in Sweden in the field of sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive<br />
health <strong>and</strong> rights. <strong>RFSU</strong> sees openness <strong>on</strong> sexuality as<br />
the point of entry of health promoti<strong>on</strong>, preventi<strong>on</strong> of STIs<br />
<strong>and</strong> HIV/AIDS <strong>and</strong> unwanted pregnancies. The organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
also believes that the rights to sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive<br />
health services <strong>and</strong> to sexuality educati<strong>on</strong> are key tools in<br />
the struggle <strong>for</strong> a healthier <strong>and</strong> more equitable society. The<br />
work is based <strong>on</strong> three freedoms that are fundamental prec<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>for</strong> a pers<strong>on</strong>s ability to experience self-worth <strong>and</strong><br />
self-esteem; The freedom to choose; The freedom to enjoy<br />
<strong>and</strong> the freedom to be <strong>on</strong>eself. An important c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
these freedoms is that <strong>on</strong>e pers<strong>on</strong>s freedom may not infringe<br />
<strong>on</strong> another’s.<br />
<strong>RFSU</strong> has been internati<strong>on</strong>ally engaged in projects <strong>and</strong> initiatives<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health <strong>and</strong> rights<br />
(SRHR) <strong>for</strong> many years. Our internati<strong>on</strong>al development ef<strong>for</strong>ts<br />
aim to increase the c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>for</strong> productive work<br />
with SRHR issues in various countries through l<strong>on</strong>g-term<br />
cooperati<strong>on</strong> with local partner organisati<strong>on</strong>s. In additi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
these ef<strong>for</strong>ts focus <strong>on</strong> developing methods that can facilitate<br />
change in other parts of the world. Through our advocacy<br />
<strong>and</strong> political ef<strong>for</strong>ts we strive to improve policies c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
sexual issues in general throughout the world. <strong>RFSU</strong> works<br />
specifically to affect <strong>and</strong> change policy <strong>and</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong> within<br />
the area of SRHR. Furthermore, <strong>RFSU</strong> works to increase<br />
resources allocated to SRHR causes.<br />
For more in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tact <strong>TMEP</strong> Project Manager,<br />
<strong>RFSU</strong> Regi<strong>on</strong>al Office,Ada Estate Plot 254, Manara Street,<br />
PO Box 39806, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania<br />
Teleph<strong>on</strong>e +255 22 2668930<br />
www.rfsu.se<br />
TANZANIAN MEN<br />
AS EQUAL PARTNERS<br />
ENGAGING MEN TO ACHIEVE SEXUAL<br />
AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH<br />
AND RIGHTS FOR ALL<br />
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS<br />
Sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health <strong>and</strong> rights (SRHR) can be understood<br />
as the right <strong>for</strong> all to make choices regarding their<br />
own sexuality, providing these respect the rights of others<br />
to bodily integrity. This definiti<strong>on</strong> includes the right to access<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> services needed to support these choices<br />
<strong>and</strong> optimise health. The right <strong>for</strong> all means regardless of age<br />
<strong>and</strong> marital status, HIV positive or negative, straight, gay or<br />
lesbian, woman, man or transgendered. However there is a<br />
range of different underst<strong>and</strong>ings of SRHR. Some of these<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ings focus more <strong>on</strong> health; others draw attenti<strong>on</strong><br />
to the significance of rights in women’s <strong>and</strong> men’s sexual <strong>and</strong><br />
reproductive choices.<br />
The project Tanzanian Men as Equal Partners engages men<br />
to achieve sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health <strong>and</strong> rights <strong>for</strong> all.
SRHR NEEDS, INEQUALITIES, GAPS<br />
A survey c<strong>on</strong>ducted in Rukwa <strong>and</strong> Singida – the main<br />
project implementati<strong>on</strong> sites – found that 49% of men<br />
<strong>and</strong> women had never heard about SRH Rights. Nearly<br />
half of men were not aware that women have right to<br />
decide whether or not to c<strong>on</strong>ceive. Nearby 50% of men<br />
<strong>and</strong> women believed that women should tolerate violence<br />
in order to keep their families together.<br />
Men are ready to allow their wives to undergo HIV tests<br />
but are reluctant to undergo tests themselves. However,<br />
It is encouraging to observe that more than half of<br />
men <strong>and</strong> women interviewed knew SRH rights are <strong>for</strong><br />
everybody regardless of age, sex <strong>and</strong> marital status.<br />
HOW IT WORKS<br />
<strong>TMEP</strong> community level implementati<strong>on</strong> begins by in<strong>for</strong>ming,<br />
sensitising <strong>and</strong> mobilising stakeholders <strong>and</strong> the<br />
wider community. Local people are recruited as peer<br />
educators who then facilitate local events to provide in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>, distribute c<strong>on</strong>doms, <strong>and</strong> refer<br />
clients to relevant SRH services. Clubs are established<br />
in schools <strong>and</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g community members to discuss<br />
sexuality, gender <strong>and</strong> SRH matters, as well as to promote<br />
gender equality <strong>and</strong> male involvement. Service<br />
providers are assisted to develop their underst<strong>and</strong>ing of<br />
a rights based approach to SRH service delivery, become<br />
more male friendly, <strong>and</strong> increase uptake of VCT, STI<br />
diagnosis <strong>and</strong> treatment, ART, <strong>and</strong> family planning. All<br />
the while, <strong>TMEP</strong> ensures close liais<strong>on</strong> with government<br />
stakeholders through regular meetings with Council<br />
Health Management Teams (CHMTs), AIDS councils, <strong>and</strong><br />
representatives of the health <strong>and</strong> educati<strong>on</strong> departments<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g others.<br />
<strong>TMEP</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>al level implementati<strong>on</strong> has three main<br />
comp<strong>on</strong>ents: communicati<strong>on</strong>s, advocacy <strong>and</strong> capacity<br />
building <strong>on</strong> engaging men. The communicati<strong>on</strong>s work is<br />
undertaken mainly through collaborati<strong>on</strong> with Femina.<br />
The Fema <strong>and</strong> Si Mchezo magazines <strong>and</strong> the Fema TV<br />
Talk show are media products known to be reaching<br />
milli<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> a regular basis. <strong>TMEP</strong> also translates essential<br />
SRH in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong> materials into Swahili.<br />
The advocacy strategy focuses <strong>on</strong> building a coaliti<strong>on</strong><br />
of partners to explain <strong>and</strong> promote male involvement<br />
to government <strong>and</strong> relevant civil society development<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Capacity development of partners <strong>and</strong> stakeholders is<br />
a key aspect of the project. <strong>TMEP</strong> trains <strong>and</strong> mentors<br />
trainers at nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>and</strong> regi<strong>on</strong>al levels. <strong>TMEP</strong> also helps<br />
build the capacity of HAPA <strong>and</strong> RODI, the project’s local<br />
implementing partners.<br />
HAPA: Health Acti<strong>on</strong>s Promoti<strong>on</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Visi<strong>on</strong>: HAPA envisi<strong>on</strong>s a rural society, which is healthy, educated,<br />
<strong>and</strong> democratic with str<strong>on</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Sustainable ec<strong>on</strong>omic base.<br />
Missi<strong>on</strong>: HAPA exists to improve the livelihood of women, children<br />
(0-15 years) <strong>and</strong> youth (16-25)<br />
HAPA is two-<strong>fold</strong> service provider organizati<strong>on</strong> these are soft <strong>and</strong> hard<br />
ware activities: Hardware: Specializes in designing c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> rehabilitati<strong>on</strong><br />
of community based health, educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> water infrastructures:<br />
Software: Specializes in facilitati<strong>on</strong> of health <strong>and</strong> provisi<strong>on</strong> of health educati<strong>on</strong><br />
through Community Based Health Care <strong>and</strong> Child-to-Child, CLTS,<br />
Mtumba hygiene <strong>and</strong> sanitati<strong>on</strong> promoti<strong>on</strong> approaches <strong>and</strong> PRA. The undergoing<br />
projects are Integrated Health Water <strong>and</strong> Sanitati<strong>on</strong>, HIV/AIDS,<br />
Safe motherhood <strong>and</strong> gender promoti<strong>on</strong>, Hygiene <strong>and</strong> sanitati<strong>on</strong> promoti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
RODI: Resource Oriented Development Initiative (RODI)<br />
Visi<strong>on</strong>: Healthy <strong>and</strong> highly empowered men, women, Youth, disabled <strong>and</strong><br />
other disadvantaged groups of communities in Rukwa regi<strong>on</strong> that are optimally<br />
utilizing locally available resources to improve their quality of life<br />
with gender focus.<br />
RODI runs programmes <strong>on</strong> malaria, HIV <strong>and</strong> AIDS <strong>and</strong> Orphans <strong>and</strong> most<br />
vulnerable children<br />
Missi<strong>on</strong>: To support initiatives of men women, youth <strong>and</strong> disabled in Rukwa<br />
regi<strong>on</strong> in their ef<strong>for</strong>ts to establish healthy society which is least affected<br />
by HIV/AIDS, Malaria, water borne <strong>and</strong> other diseases. The society that is<br />
capable of utilizing local resources optimally to improve their quality of life.<br />
RESULTS FRAMEWORK<br />
<br />
GOAL<br />
<br />
PURPOSE<br />
<br />
RESULT 1<br />
<br />
RESULT 2<br />
<br />
RESULT 3<br />
<br />
RESULT 4<br />
<br />
RESULT 5<br />
Communities fully excising their rights to<br />
sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health as a basic<br />
human right.<br />
To scale up access to sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive<br />
health <strong>and</strong> rights in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong>, educati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> services <strong>for</strong> all, especially underserved<br />
groups.<br />
Men as agents of change. Improved involvement<br />
<strong>and</strong> participati<strong>on</strong> of men in promoting<br />
SRHR <strong>and</strong> tackling gender inequality<br />
in their communities.<br />
SRHR in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong>. Men <strong>and</strong> women have<br />
increased access to accurate in<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> dialogue <strong>on</strong> SRHR.<br />
SRHR services. High utilizati<strong>on</strong> of SRHR<br />
services (including family planning, HIV/<br />
AIDS preventi<strong>on</strong>, care <strong>and</strong> treatment) by<br />
both men <strong>and</strong> women.<br />
Capacity building. Implementing partners<br />
<strong>and</strong> stakeholders with str<strong>on</strong>g capacity<br />
<strong>for</strong> promoting gender oriented SRHR <strong>and</strong><br />
meeting the needs of both men <strong>and</strong> women.<br />
Mainstreaming <strong>and</strong> advocacy. Male involvement<br />
<strong>and</strong> gender-oriented SRHR integrated<br />
into plans <strong>and</strong> activities of nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
government, local government, <strong>and</strong> civil<br />
society organizati<strong>on</strong>s.