Objectives:

This policy brief aims to improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services for people affected by crisis and in fragile situations.

This can be achieved by developing and adopting an Accountability Framework as a roadmap for policy makers, donors, and stakeholders to:

• Enhance coordination among stakeholders to improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services for people affected in fragility situation in Jordan.
• Institutionalize multisectoral accountability to ensure sustainability and accelerate progress in achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights

Abstract:

This policy brief aims to  improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services for people affected by crisis and in fragile situations, and to accelerate progress towards achieving SRHR national objectives and concerned targets of sustainable development goals.

This brief was financed by a research grant from Share-Net International, the Knowledge Platform on SRHR. It was prepared in response to the recommendations derived from the monitoring reports of the Jordanian National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, and the outcomes of Share-Net International Co-Creation Conference "Engaging in knowledge Translation Together", which was held in Netherlands in 2019.

The policy brief was prepared by using a consultative participatory approach, where a committee of practitioners (Community of Practice) representing concerned national and international institutions was formed. Four focus groups were conducted with Syrian refugees in Amman and Mafraq governorates and four focus groups were conducted with service providers in and out the Syrian refugee camps to assess their satisfaction with the SRH services that are provided. Meetings were held with decision makers in governmental and non-governmental institutions working in the field of emergency response and SRH service provision including Ministry of Health, Higher Health Counsel, donors, INGOs, NGOs and others.

The brief presented a Multisectoral Accountability Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (MAF-SRHR)[1]to facilitate and support accountability in this regard at national, sectoral and institutional levels. The accountability framework consisted of four elements; the first represents main Jordan's commitments towards regional and international resolutions and goals, the second element lists actions taken at national, sectoral and institutional levels towards achieving commitments made, the third element focuses on monitoring and reporting about the progress made and identifying gaps that hindered fulfillment of action plans, the fourth element concerns the review of monitoring reports and   correcting actions.

Policy Recommendations

1. The adoption of the Multisectoral Accountability Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (MAF-SRHR) at the national level and enforce its implementation by all stakeholders.
2. Improve mechanisms of disaggregated data collection in crisis and fragility, and identify indicators at national, regional, and nationality level.
3. Ensure the commitment of stakeholders to produce periodical monitoring reports.
4. Ensure the commitment of partners and donor agencies to the outcomes of the accountability framework review process, mainly financing, institutionalization and sustainability of services, and enhance coordination during emergency and fragile situations.
5. Revise concerned national strategies and action plans, to ensure the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights during emergency situations.
6. Improve mechanisms that enhance cooperation and coordination of donor agencies, to ensure continuity and sustainability of financing and service provision during  crisis, emergency and fragility.
7. Build on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, to develop mechanisms that ensure an effective response and continuity of service provision   This includes development of essential SRH service package in emergency, ensuring access to services and information to vulnerable groups  and adopting innovative service delivery modalities e.g. hotlines and telehealth