O-152 The role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the establishment of national and regional registries

Abstract

Abstract The United Nations refers to South-South cooperation as a broad framework of collaboration between developing countries in the Global South. It can take place on a bilateral, regional, or interregional basis. Its main purpose is to share knowledge, skills, resources and successful initiatives to meet development goals through concerted partnerships. Triangular cooperation implies the presence of traditional donor countries and organizations which facilitate South-South initiatives. Both forms of cooperation carry distinct benefits and differ from the more traditional North-South partnerships. This presentation will describe how, under the umbrella and support of ICMART, regional and interregional ART registries in the developing South, specifically the Latin American registry (REDLARA) and the African registry (ANARA), are contributing to the development, sustainability and cohesion in ART monitoring among the many countries they represent. With an innovative and standardized ART registry as a backbone, 35 countries in these two continents are now organized in regional reproductive networks increasing their recognition, visibility and impact, We shall demonstrate that this south-south and triangular cooperation, built upon a spirit of community and regional belonging is a strong facilitator of ART monitoring and transfer of technology to the developing South, and its ongoing expansion and reach. In Latin America, where REDLARA was established 30 years ago, local and expedited channels of communication have furthermore underpinned the training of embryologists, clinicians and other health care professionals through regional networks of professionals and certified training centers. This has resulted in enhanced ART self-reliance including the capability to implement new ART technologies and also monitor their availability, utilization, effectiveness and safety. Similar initiatives, strongly supported by REDLARA and ICMART, are starting to be implemented among African institutions via ANARA. Lastly, we shall demonstrate that our regional as well as global ART registries, together with other international organizations, have contributed to the dissemination of knowledge and serve as monitors and external quality controls now for 35 countries and almost 300 institutions in Latin America and Africa. Furthermore, given that both continents are progressively implementing the same cycle-based reporting system, new knowledge will be gained by examining regional and country similarities and differences.