This health systems strengthening project aims to improve the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women, adolescents and other marginalized groups in underserved areas of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Vietnam. The project will address poor health outcomes of women, adolescents and children along the continuum of comprehensive integrated SRHR services and nutrition. The project also addresses underlying determinants of SRHR, such as gender equality, SGBV, women’s agency and access to rights-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The project takes an integrated and holistic approach and aims to engage with government bodies to adapt existing policies or promote policy changes, develop toolkits to guide provision of gender-responsive services, and train community groups on gender-based violence. The project will be implemented in partnership with BAPSA, HealthBridge Vietnam, CCIHP and Ipas Nepal.

In Bangladesh the project will work in the coastal port city of Chattogram, targeting the urban poor and residents of informal settlements, including migrants. In Nepal, the project will be implemented in the mountainous Karnali province, which features pronounced poverty in rural areas, gender inequality, and substantial ethnic and caste inequalities. In Vietnam the project will be implemented in Son La province, which is a mountainous province in northwestern Vietnam, and which is home to many marginalized ethnic minorities who experience dramatic health and social inequities.

The overall goal of the project is improved comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for marginalized women, children and adolescents in Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam. Expected results include:

• Increased availability and use of gender responsive, high quality, comprehensive and integrated sexual reproductive health (SRH) services that are accessible, acceptable and sensitive to the needs of adolescents, women and children.

• Increased adoption among community members of practices that advance gender-equality and the health, rights and autonomy of women, adolescents and children.

• Strengthened endorsement, enactment and implementation of policies and guidelines by decision makers that promote resilient health systems and uphold the health rights of women, adolescents and children.