Arrow

The year 2023 was a crucial year as this marked the preparations for the international conference on population and development (icpd) implementation, which focuses on gender equality and srhr. Arrow co-chaired the 7th asian pacific population conference steering committee, and played a crucial role in convening the cso space through engagement of csos from the region in the multi stakeholder dialogues prior to 7th appc inter-governmental process. This was a yearlong engagement, which culminated into 4 multi stakeholder dialogues followed by cso and youth forum prior to 7th appc inter-governmental meeting, held in bangkok on 13 and 14 november 2023. (continued on schedule o)the 7th appc outcome report despite opposition from select member states recommended that the economic and social commission for asia and pacific and the united nations population fund, within their mandates, continue to support commission members and associate members in the implementation of the asian and pacific ministerial declaration on population and development and the programme of action of the international conference on population and development and the outcomes of its reviews, in the context of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, at the national and regional levels.at the women deliver conference, Arrow implemented the regional convening partner model. Arrow was the regional convening partner for the asia region. Arrow led the asia region advocacy including regional webinars and workshops and ensured the voice of diverse women and young people from asia at the women deliver conference in kigali, rwanda. Arrow's experience in the icpd+30 convenorship was demonstrated as we began preparing for icpd +30 one year prior with a partner meeting in kuala lumpur with 28 representatives of fourteen countries: vietnam, fiji, laos pdr, nepal, india, bangladesh, philippines, pakistan, malaysia, indonesia, cambodia, sri lanka, mongolia and maldives. Country monitoring reports have been developed. Arrow in 2023 has been the front runner; putting srhr in the agenda: Arrow was part of national, regional and global advocacy spaces from january to december in 2023. In every space Arrow made statements and interventions as well as provided technical support to our partners to be able to participate as well. Through the evidence-based advocacy year-round Arrow ensured that srhr was on the agenda in each of these spaces. Young people's organising in the region also played a vital role in our strategy to ensure diverse voices are represented in all spaces. Some of the challenges and opportunities we faced, included travel post covid-19 is costing more and there are more restrictions for visa approvals especially for participants from global south countries. To ensure that we are able to reach a wider audience we facilitated hybrid meetings. Virtual meetings continue to play a vital role in keeping abreast of work progress among remote working staff and physical staff and also with partners and donors.