ANSER and UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Office concluded the second edition of the Fall Class "Accelerating the implementation of the National SRHR Strategies and Action Plans in the EECA Region: linking evidence, policy and practice", between the 12th and the 16th of September 2022.

 The course aimed to provide participants with a theoretical background and practical tools on how to ensure strong SRHR policies based on evidence and field experiences. This year 11 participants, ranging from young policy experts and researchers, from different countries in the EECA region participated in the course. Over 20 experts from 12 different countries all over the world lectured during the course. We asked Kerem Renda, one of the participants for a reflection.
“I have been working in the SRHR area for almost six years now. During these six years, I have engaged in different activities, from operational and liaison activities to supervision of services and capacity building of staff members. However, I have always felt that I lacked some important knowledge and skills to do my job effectively and to have an impact on the community.
As a participant in the UNFPA/ANSER Fall 2022 class, I had the opportunity to fill that gap. This course has provided me with the necessary professional and intellectual tools I needed, as well as taught me the importance and necessity of linking evidence, policy, and practice. I have realised that in order to leave no one behind, all aspects of SRHR (whether at the policy, research, or service delivery level) must be interconnected because they are all equally important; without one of them we cannot achieve the best implementation of SRHR activities.
I feel that having participated in the Fall 2022 class is a milestone in my professional life, as the course increased my self-confidence and strengthened my skills and capabilities as a professional in the area of SRHR.”