Roundtables Gone Live
Roundtable # 1: Intersectionality
The first in the series of roundtable discussions happened at the IPPF donor meeting 15-16 June 2021. You can watch the thought-provoking discussion below. It inspired a heartfelt conversation among our donors and partners.
The term ‘intersectionality’ is a concept developed by Professor Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989. It gained traction in the aftermath of George Floyd, as conversations on racism were bought violently to the fore. Exclusion and prejudice against individuals with overlapping identities means opportunities are limited; and the spaces to engage in are silently, and discreetly diminished or even non-existent. This remains an issue in our sector; as we too struggle to align our principles and practice. What does all this mean for how we walk our talk? What could we do better? How do we do better?
Roundtable Members
- Kate Gilmore (Moderator): IPPF Board Chair (Australia)
- Bassey Nyambi: PPFA Director Global Partnerships (USA)
- Mona Eltahawy: Freelance Journalist (Canada / Egypt)
- Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng: UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health (South Africa)
Roundtable # 2: MA Sustainability through Enterprise
The second roundtable took place on 30 June. It was hosted by FPA Sri Lanka and the SE Hub. The theme was Social Enterprise and MA sustainability. The event had an audience of more than 130 people from all parts of the Federation.
What were the key points the meeting addressed?
- If done right, Social Enterprise (SE) can be a strong contributor to Sustainability for our Member Associations.
- Key points for an SE: Purpose, People and Planning.
- There are many funding sources available for social enterprising. It’s a trillion dollar industry. But your business model still has to be a sound one to attract investors.
- You may not have the ready-made skills and knowledge to start an enterprise, but you can surely acquire them and learn along the way.
- Start small to eventually grow big! Personal experiences were shared in this regard.
- Using SE as a source of competitive advantage is no longer sufficient to compete in contemporary markets.
National Roundtables: SRHR & Disability
On 21 June, the Sudanese Family Planning Association hosted a national Roundtable discussion about service gaps for persons with disabilities. The topics discussed include:
- Improving policies and protocols
- Awareness raising of reproductive health issues for young people with disabilities
- Activating health partnerships and using digital health innovations
- Stakeholder engagement in developing and formulating appropriate strategies
