Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

The development of international activities was a priority within the College's three-year strategy, 2004-2007. Initial focus was on collaborative work with other agencies to assist in reducing maternal mortality in developing countries and to raise the standard of reproductive healthcare worldwide. The first stage was to establish an International Executive Board under the Chairmanship of the Senior Vice President who had responsibility for international affairs. The Board met quarterly and reported to Council. It included representatives of other organisations including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, FIGO, and the World Health Organisation. It had the following remit:

• To co-ordinate and promote an RCOG strategy on the improvement of reproductive healthcare worldwide to reduce maternal mortality.
• To establish and monitor progress of the RCOG Foundation.
• To consider income generation initiatives to ensure that there were sufficient funds available to sustain this area of work.
• To work in partnership with other UK and International Agencies to strengthen links, to facilitate a multi-disciplinary approach and to encourage dialogue.
• To co-ordinate the development of clinical standards and educational tools for under-resourced countries.
• To develop a framework for improvements in reproductive health in developing countries.
• To lobby governments, including the health ministers of commonwealth countries to influence and educate on the problems and solutions to maternal mortality.
• To assist in the exchange of skilled personnel and training programmes.
• To collaborate with RCOG international representative committees and to encourage dialogue at a national level in all countries.
  An International Advisory Group was also established in 2006 to support and advise the Board.