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SRHR: Policy, Governance and Financing

What are the key issues in the good governance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)? How can one negotiate the complex political and financial terrain when developing policies and strategic plans? Maternal health, family planning, adolescent health, abortion and HIV, and the policies and strategies that address these, are among the most internationalised and to some extent politicised of all health issues.
This course will enable you to analyse and review SRHR policy from a governance, finance and human right perspective.

Start
12/05/2025
Duration
3 weeks
Course Period
from 12/05/2025 until 27/05/2025
Location
KIT Amsterdam
EC
3
Language
English

Content

What are the key issues in the good governance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)? How can one negotiate the complex political and financial terrain when developing policies and strategic plans? Maternal health, family planning, adolescent health, abortion and HIV, and the policies and strategies that address these, are among the most internationalised and to some extent politicised of all health issues.

Participants identify SRHR related international agreements, development commitments and financial mechanisms, and analyse how these influence national policies and plans and vice versa. They will perform an SRHR strategic policy review from a multi-stakeholder perspective, addressing governance, human rights and financing structures and their implications for planning and managing comprehensive SRHR.

This course can be taken as part of the MPH-HE SRHR track, after following SRHR Matters and SRHR Reponses, or as a stand-alone short course(*). Participants will leave with advanced knowledge and skills essential for performing policy analysis.

Objectives

At the end of this course participants will be able to:

  • Identify and discuss relevant SRH rights and development-related international agreements, development commitments and financial mechanisms
  • Analyse how these international agreements (including the UN mechanisms), commitments and related governance and financing mechanisms influence national development policy, planning and implementation, and vice-versa
  • Analyse policies and governance, human rights and financing structures and identify implications for planning and managing the SHRH responses and interventions
  • Use the UN mechanisms to advocate for SRHR at the national and international levels
  • Perform an SRHR strategic policy review from a multi-stakeholder perspective, including mobilisation of stakeholders from different sectors and communicate this in the form of a policy brief

Course content

The following subjects are covered during the course:

  • SRHR-related international agreements, development commitments and financial mechanisms
  • SRHR-related policy analysis
  • Health and SRHR governance issues
  • International SRHR-related aid architecture
  • Health systems and financing issues, incl. health insurance related to SRHR
  • Human rights and advocacy for SRHR
  • Role of the private sector in the field of SRHR
  • Role of the UN mechanisms in advocating for SRHR
  • Mobilising and coordinating with local communities and other stakeholders in the field of SRHR

Learning methods

A variety of learning methods is used, most importantly:

The educational approach is based on the following social constructivist learning principles, specifically:

Participants are usually from various nationalities and are expected to actively share their own experiences in interaction with each other in order to contribute to learning and strengthening knowledge and competencies.

The course takes place mainly on KIT premises through in-person learning activities, but also has online and self-study components. Main online platforms used are Teams/Zoom and the KIT Virtual Grounds.

Assessment:

Participants will be assessed on a final individual paper (100%) (summative assessment). The final paper is a policy brief (2,000 words +/- 10%), addressing a specific SRHR-related policy issue.

For participants who wish to receive a certificate of completion of the course, including the ECTS credits, the assessment is required.
If you do not wish to do the assessment, you can receive a certificate of attendance of the course.

More on our learning methods:
https://www.kit.nl/institute/study/general-information/

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Application

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Admission criteria

This course is aimed at health professionals who are looking for a fuller understanding of the mechanisms behind, and the politics that contribute to, current HIV and AIDS policies and programmes. These can be medically qualified doctors and nurses, or those working in the public health sector.

  • Academic training or a professional qualification in a relevant field
  • Work experience in a related area, including experience in management or planning in developing countries
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Computer literacy is essential: we use a virtual learning platform and digital tools in our education and assignments

Application procedure

The application package is due two months before the start of the course.

Please upload your application online. The following documents should be uploaded:

  • A one-page letter of motivation
  • Copies of your diplomas and grade reports (academic transcripts)
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae and a list of publications if applicable

What we expect from your motivation letter:

Please indicate in your motivation letter why you want to follow this specific course, why you want to follow the course at KIT Amsterdam, what do you expect to learn and how you will apply your newly gained competencies from the course in your work, what kind of benefits will it bring to your future career, etc. Describe a relevant problem you have experienced in the last two years that you would like to discuss during this specific course. Your motivation should be about ½-1 page. Please do not repeat your CV again.

This course is tropEd accredited and can be followed as a stand-alone course or as part of the current Master in International Health or Master in Public Health and Health Equity.

FAQ Online Application System

Do you have a question about our Online Application System? Then you can find the answer in our FAQ Online Application System:

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Practical information

Location

Classes are held at KIT’s training facilities in Amsterdam.

Accommodation

There is a severe shortage of student accommodation in Amsterdam and participants are advised to contact KIT for information. KIT will endeavour to assist participants in their search for housing.

Visa requirements

Citizens of most EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. Visit the Nuffic website for the latest information on visa requirements.

Participants from other countries must obtain a short-stay visa (for up to three months) through the Netherlands embassy or consulate covering the applicant’s country. Applicants will need a letter of admission to the course and proof of sponsorship or sufficient funds to cover the course fee, travel and accommodation costs. Applicants should take into account that in some countries this procedure can take several months.

European Credit

The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between different institutions of the same academic level. A course comprising 28 hours of formal teaching and private study is equivalent to one EC credit point.

Insurance requirements

Course participants and accompanying dependents are required by Dutch law to have health, accident and third party insurance. Unless their current insurance policy covers their stay abroad, participants must insure themselves and their dependents in the Netherlands. Dutch insurance companies offer reasonable rates to foreign students. KIT can assist with arranging insurance.

Accreditation

This course is accredited for the Master of Science in Public Health and Health Equity, organised by KIT Institute. It is also accredited by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health. As such it can be followed as independent short course but also as part of the Master in International Health programme from other tropEd Institutes.

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Funding

The arrangement of financial support to cover all study costs is the responsibility of the applicant. KIT does not offer financial support or scholarships.

Scholarship information

Discounts and Fees

We offer a range of discounts for early bird applicants, alumni, tropEd students and groups. See below the discounts and fees for this course on SRHR: Policy, Governance and Financing. See for more information about our discounts for groups and other short courses on our exclusive discount page.

Course fees 2025

Regular course fee € 1.980,- Start date: 12/05/2025
Early bird fee € 1.584,- Paid before: 13/02/2025
Alumni discount € 1.584,-
tropEd fee € 1.782,-

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Why Study at KIT Institute?

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  • Up-to-date approach to complex public health issues
  • Practice-oriented
  • Exchange between disciplines
  • Interactive Education
  • Development of personal and professional competencies
  • Network building
  • Participants from diverse backgrounds and countries
  • Personal tutoring
  • Teaching by highly qualified specialists
  • Positively reviewed by tropEd
  • KIT: international centre of excellence in international health and development
  • Accredited by NVAO

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