We launch our new five year international strategy

Our FSRH International Committee has produced a new international strategy, which forms part of our five year organisational plan. Read on to find out more.

We recognise that access to good quality sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) is a human right, and that globally there is a high unmet need for contraception. Our FSRH International Committee works to translate and promote our products to an international audience, supporting them to deliver high quality SRH.

What we have achieved

We are one of the few professional bodies in the world explicitly dedicated to providing high-quality education and training in SRH, and there is potentially a large audience of healthcare professionals internationally who could benefit from our educational offer. An example of this is our online Contraceptive Counselling course, which has had over 1700 healthcare professionals registering globally.

We have also developed our International Certificate of Knowledge based on eSRH learning, which has been successfully piloted in Botswana. This will soon be rolled out as part of a partnership with the RCOG Leading Safe Choices programme.

COVID-19 has presented both challenges and opportunities in the way we work – from an increase in remote training opportunities and the chance to interact more easily via webinars with global organisations. Last year, we hosted a webinar on the global impact of COVID-19 on SRH and rights, and we are planning more topic-based webinars in 2021.

Key areas of focus

Our international strategy sets out our ambition to strategically influence and educate at the international level.

It covers three key areas to help us share our knowledge and skills and grow our international reach:

• Knowledge exchange – provide training and opportunities for healthcare professionals based outside of the UK, to improve their knowledge, skills and attitudes around SRH provision.
  
  
• Sustainability – grow our international reach and membership and secure sources of funding.
  
  
• System change – support partnerships for local delivery and engage with global networks, working together to both learn and offer our expertise.