As part of the restructuring Madhu Bala Nath took over as Regional Director of the South Asian Region in late 2003. She brought with her a rich management and field experience in gender, women, reproductive health and development.

The SAR Office (SARO) relocated from London to Delhi in early 2004, to be in the region it served. The first half of the year saw staff recruitment and development of strategic plans with all Member Associations. In the latter half of the year, SARO began working on building capacities of its staff and those of Member Associations through a series of workshops and study visits. The capacity building exercises are still on. It entered Afghanistan bringing much-needed clinical and training services to a strife-torn country.

Restructuring and rejuvenation called for the assessment of capacities and needs. Human resource audits have been conducted of all Member Associations and the shortcomings are being addressed. Partnerships have been established with Memorandum of Understanding with strategic organisations, projects and programmes have been reassessed and strengthened keeping the 5As in focus. SARO is determined to strengthen its role as a leading voluntary sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation in the region.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation South Asia region includes the Family Planning Associations (FPAs) of Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The IPPF South Asia regional office (SARO) has also initiated work in Afghanistan and recently re-established clinical and training services in the country. These FPAs cover a population of almost one and a half billion people and some of the most pressing concerns in terms of family planning, sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth, gender and now HIV/AIDS.

All family planning associations are autonomous organizations established and managed by local people.