A Knowledge Platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Summary:

What would happen if there was no one to share the findings of a recent research you have conducted? What would happen if you didn't have anyone to share your experience with after a field visit? What if you had an advocacy idea in your mind, but don't know where to go to make your idea come to life? A simple answer to these questions is that all the knowledge that you have gathered and acquired will be lost forever. This knowledge that could have otherwise been shared, translated or promoted for the benefit of others would remain unused and wasted. There is a large number of practitioners, researchers, policymakers and experts who are working extensively in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Each of these individuals is like a closed encyclopedia of knowledge, findings and experiences. What if there is a platform that brings together these living encyclopedias to enable them to exchange their knowledge and learn from each other? Share-Net Bangladesh is that platform that brings together experts from the field of SRHR in one place so that they can learn and share with each other. When different people sharing a common goal come together and engage in discussions, they feel encouraged to take critical issues forward. This contributes to the policy advocacy of concerning issues such as sexual harassment, child marriage etc. This platform believes that exchange of dialogues and debate is the first step of influencing behavior change and policy advocacy.

Background/Objectives:

Share-Net Bangladesh is the first country hub of Share-Net International. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands and hosted by RedOrange Media and Communications in Dhaka. It draws on the years of experiences and interventions by practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in the field of sexual and reproductive health, especially placing SRHR at the center of human rights. Share-Net Bangladesh aims to bring together the Communities of Practice (CoP) that consist of social and medical researchers, development practitioners, health workers, government officials and legal experts to engage with one another to find solutions and take critical issues.

Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:

We began by identifying the organizations in Bangladesh that are working on different SRHR issues such as child marriage, sexual harassment, LGBTQ, breast cancer etc. After fixing a meeting with representatives from those organizations, we encouraged them to become members of Share-Net Bangladesh, so that we can form a wide network of SRHR professionals. We classified these professionals into groups who are working on similar issues, and called them 'Communities of Practice'. We organize round table meetings where we invite each community of practice to come together, have discussions and share knowledge. To keep the members connected, they are always made to feel that they are a very important part of Share-Net Bangladesh. Face to face meetings are conducted on a regular basis where we ask for their suggestions and recommendations regarding how we can find more ways to spread knowledge, and involve more members on the platform.

Results/Lessons Learned:

Share-Net Bangladesh currently has 57 organizational members and 1055 individual members. After the completion of the first term- 2015-2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, have agreed to fund the project for another five years- 2020-2024. Apart from being a knowledge sharing platform, organizations look at Share-Net Bangladesh as a means of portraying their work. The fact that these organizations are not only giving (their knowledge products), but also receiving something, i.e. exposure, works as an encouragement that lets them keep sharing their knowledge and be a part of the platform on a continuous basis. The section on the website where individuals are given the opportunity to write for the website lets the members possess a feeling of ownership towards the platform. Share-Net Bangladesh is currently advocating to make 'Infertility' a part of the national agenda.

Discussion/Implications for the Field:

Share-Net Bangladesh is one of the country hubs of Share-Net International. The other hubs are based in the Netherlands, Jordan and Burundi. In the near future, we intend to extend the hubs to other countries which require urgent need for advocacy of SRHR policies. A few considerations are Nepal, Indonesia, Uganda, Rwanda or Tanzania. To make the process easier and feasible for the country hubs, it has been decided that based on the situation of the country, it is not necessary that the communities of practice have to meet on a regular basis. https://www.share-netbangladesh.org/#

Abstract submitted by:

Nujhat Khan - RedOrange Media and Communications
Arnob Chakrabarty - RedOrange Media and Communications