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2018 ICFP Evaluation Published on FPConference.Org

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, we thank you for attending the 5th International Conference on Family Planning,…

“We Are Family” Now Available on All Major Streaming Platforms

Featuring Otuck William, Avril, Yvonne ChakaChaka, Butera Knowless, TrevMoMatic, Navz47 & Xenia To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the founding of the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), the Gates Institute commissioned a new…

Senior Burkina Faso Health Official Affirms Strong Commitment to Universal Health Coverage

Written by Population Reference Bureau | Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health, Nicolas Meda, affirmed Burkina Faso’s strong financial and political commitment to improving public health through universal access to comprehensive health coverage, citing the key role of family planning and the importance of donors and partners in helping secure the additional resources needed to meet their ambitious goals.

Family Planning Realities for Young People in Nepal

Written by Dr. Preeti Shakya, Girls’ Globe | Speaking from my own experience in Nepal, values about sexuality vary and are defined by culture and religion. One common barrier is social stigma, which discourages young people from openly discussing their needs and seeking the necessary interventions.

Summoning up Superheroes

Written by Dayna Kerecman Myers, Managing Editor, Global Health NOW | The delegates assembled for the 5th International Conference on Family Planning are more than just advocates of family planning, Gates Institute Director Jose “Oying” Rimon II said in his opening remarks. They might as well be superheroes, because family planning addresses so many other issues—such as women’s rights, gender violence, poverty and climate change—in a significant way.

Women in Rural Zimbabwe are Being Left Behind

Written by Yunah Bvumbwe, Girls’ Globe | Being a young woman living in a rural or remote community can be very daunting. You have to fight tirelessly to loosen yourself from the grip of sociocultural stigmatization to have any sense of autonomy over your sexuality.

#ICFPYouthRelay Demands Better Access to Family Planning for Kenyan Youth

Written by the Kenya Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Network | The KAYSRHR organized the #ICFPYouthRelay to highlight the role of youth in the process of holding their governments accountable and share young people’s stories and perspectives. Support the Relay by signing the Kenyan Youth Declaration!

The Global Compact on Refugees Could Fail Girls and Women – But We Don’t Have To

Written by Marcy Hersh, Senior Manager for Humanitarian Advocacy, Women Deliver | After working with refugees from Burundi, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, I’ve witnessed how girls and women with the ability to control and manage their fertility could build brighter futures, and power progress for their communities. Yet, more often than not, I’ve seen their health, rights, and wellbeing sidelined in humanitarian responses.

These 5 Levels of Advocacy Are Moving the Needle on Contraceptive Use

Written by The Editorial Team, IntraHealth International | In the struggle to end poverty, new ideas and powerful new voices are rising up, demanding change. And it’s working.

Quality: A litmus test for progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights

By Suzanne Ehlers, PAI and Tamara Kreinin, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation | The case for investing in sexual and reproductive health—especially modern contraception—has always been simple: If women and girls can choose if and when to become pregnant, they can change the trajectories of their lives and transform communities through social and economic development.

“A world of hope for adolescent girls” – Olive’s story

Written by Olive Uwamariya, CARE | This is the fourth and final blog in a series sharing personal family planning stories from around the world – presented by CARE and Girls’ Globe in the lead up to the 2018 International Conference on Family Planning. Catch up on the whole series with stories from Hawa, Parmila, and Oun Srey Leak.

“Now I Use Contraception” – Oun Srey Leak’s Story

Written by CARE | This is the third blog in a 4-part series sharing personal family planning stories from around the world – presented by CARE and Girls’ Globe in the lead up to the 2018 International Conference on Family Planning. Catch up on the whole series with stories from Hawa, Parmila, and Olive.

“Why should women have all the responsibility?” – Parmila’s Story

Written by CARE | This is the second blog in a 4-part series sharing personal family planning stories from around the world – presented by CARE and Girls’ Globe in the lead up to the 2018 International Conference on Family Planning. Catch up on the whole series with stories from Hawa, Oun Srey Leak, and Olive.

“All men should let their wives start family planning” – Hawa’s Story

Written by CARE | This is the first blog in a 4-part series sharing personal family planning stories from around the world – presented by CARE and Girls’ Globe in the lead up to the 2018 International Conference on Family Planning. Catch up on the whole series with stories from Parmila, Oun Srey Leak, and Olive.

Through a Gender Lens: Clarifying the Demographic Dividend

Written by Jay Gribble, Health Policy Plus | Yesterday I had the chance to participate in a pre-conference session on the demographic dividend, and I must admit to being amazed at the progress that is taking place on helping countries think about how they are progressing toward a dividend. Yet among the discussion, I feel like there’s an important topic that is overlooked — the importance of addressing gender to maximize the opportunity to achieve a dividend.

Courting Health

Written by Dayna Kerecman Myers | Building a basketball court right next to the Nyamirama Health Center was no coincidence. The strategically placed court is part of a deliberate effort to improve access to health education and services in Rwanda’s Kayonza district, visited by a busload of ICFP delegates Saturday. As part of the program developed by Shooting Touch, youth learn about basketball alongside health issues, including reproductive health.

Young Nigeriens Want Comprehensive Sex Ed and Solid Advice

Written by Margarite Nathe, IntraHealth International | In Niger, talking about sex and contraceptives isn’t always easy. But little by little, things are changing.

We Must Address Our Private Sector ‘Blind Spot’ to Expand Postpartum Family Planning

Written by Megan Christofield, MPH | The potential—and stakes—are enormous: the first 23 months postpartum, particularly the first few months, is when women experience the highest unmet need for family planning. Offering their preferred method right after they deliver can be a safe, convenient, and highly effective way to meet this need.

Countdown to Kigali: 5 Things to Watch for at #ICFP2018

Written by Dayna Kerecman Myers, Managing Editor, Global Health NOW | Many delegates will trickle into Kigali, Rwanda this weekend for the 5th International Conference on Family Planning with little fanfare—but the youth are already starting to steal the show, with a virtual youth relay that started in Mombasa, Kenya earlier this week.

Responsabiliser les femmes et accompagner le progrès dans les services sanitaires intégrés au Bénin

Par : Caroline Roan, présidente de la Pfizer Foundation, et Marius Gnintoungbe, responsable des programmes sanitaires pour l’association CARE | La centralisation des services destinés aux communautés dans un même centre, lors d’une même visite, se traduit par un meilleur accès à des interventions sanitaires importantes, des soins médicaux prodigués plus efficaces et des services plus en adéquation avec les besoins réels des patients et de leur famille.

Empowering Women and Driving Progress through Integrated Health Services in Benin

By: Caroline Roan, President, the Pfizer Foundation, and Marius Gnintoungbe, Health Program Initiative Manager, CARE | Offering communities multiple services at the same site during the same visit increases access to important health interventions, improves the efficiency of healthcare delivery, and respects the real-world demands on individuals and their families.

La voie de l’innovation dans la planification familiale

Par Luc Van Steenwinkel | En tant que responsable du site de production de Pfizer à Puurs en Belgique, je suis extrêmement fier d’avoir récemment organisé une cérémonie d’inauguration officielle d’une nouvelle installation sur notre campus. Le bâtiment abritera une chaîne de production à la pointe de la technologie afin d’accroître la capacité de fabrication du contraceptif injectable pré-rempli à usage unique « Tout en un » de Pfizer, Sayana® Press (dépôt d’acétate de médroxyprogestérone).

The Road to Innovation in Family Planning

Guest column by Luc Van Steenwinkel | As the Leader of Pfizer’s Puurs, Belgium manufacturing site, I was incredibly proud to recently host an official groundbreaking ceremony of a new facility on our campus. The building will accommodate a state-of-the-art production line to expand the manufacturing capacity for Pfizer’s pre-filled, single-use, all-in-one injectable contraceptive Sayana® Press (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate).

Journée mondiale de la vasectomie: Abordant la masculinité dans le contexte de la planification familiale

Auteur: Jonathan Stack, cinéaste | En 2012, le cinéaste Jonathan Stack et le docteur vasectomiste Doug Stein ont cofondé la Journée mondiale de la vasectomie (WVD). Du 12 au 16 novembre 2018, WVD célèbre son sixième anniversaire avec plus de 1 200 médecins dans plus de 50 pays ayant effectué plus de 20 000 procédures. Alliés, soutenus ou en partenariat avec plusieurs des  principales organisations de PF, et guidés par son conseil consultatif composé de 35 membres, WVD est maintenant le plus grand événement de planification familiale axé sur les hommes de l’histoire.

World Vasectomy Day: Addressing masculinity in family planning

Guest column from filmmaker Jonathan Stack | In 2012, filmmaker Jonathan Stack and vasectomist Dr. Doug Stein co-founded World Vasectomy Day.  On November 12-16, 2018, WVD celebrates its sixth anniversary with over 1,200 physicians in 50+ countries doing upwards of 20,000 procedures. Allied, supported or in partnership with many of FP’s leading organizations, and guided by it 35-member advisory board, WVD is now the largest male-oriented family planning event in history.

How can we support stronger local advocacy for reproductive health in Africa?

Guest column from Althea D. Anderson, program officer with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Global Development and Population Program | While many international family planning conferences have focused on increasing aid—from multilateral and bilateral development institutions—to expand reproductive health information and services, I’m looking forward to this year’s ever-stronger focus on the important role local advocacy in Africa must play to increase and sustain women’s access to family planning.

Comment pouvons-nous soutenir un plaidoyer local plus fort pour la santé reproductive en Afrique?

Auteure : Althea D. Anderson, Administratrice de Programme pour le Programme de développement mondial et de population de la Fondation William et Flora Hewlett | Tandis que de nombreuses conférences internationales sur la planification familiale se sont concentrées sur un accroissement de l’aide – provenant d’institutions de développement multilatérales et bilatérales – afin d’élargir l’information et les services de santé en matière de procréation, je me réjouis de mettre un accent toujours croissant sur le rôle important que le plaidoyer local en Afrique doit jouer pour accroître et maintenir l’accès des femmes à la planification familiale.

Family Planning: A Global Imperative

Guest column from Christopher Purdy, President and CEO of DKT International | This is a transcendent moment for family planning. It has never been more important than it is right now; ensuring family planning is available to every woman who wants it must become a global imperative.

A l’écoute des organisations candidates

Par Rolla Khadduri – Directrice du Fonds, AmplifyChange | Comment des approches novatrices peuvent améliorer la programmation de projets de plaidoyer pour les Droits et la Santé Sexuels et Reproductifs

Listening to applicants

Guest column from Rolla Khadduri – Fund Director, AmplifyChange | AmplifyChange is finding new ways to select grants and exploring how grant-makers can be more approachable to applicants. At ICFP 2018, we will be using an interactive grant-making process that encourages youth leadership in advocacy for young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, including family planning.

A moment to elevate young women’s voices and family planning choices

Guest column from Janet Holt, Program Officer, Global Development and Population Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation | Young women—under the age of 20—often have the hardest time accessing family planning and reproductive health services, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This is why I’m thrilled that hundreds of young women from around the globe will be part of the International Conference on Family Planning.

Un moment pour élever la voix des jeunes femmes et les choix de planification familiale

Auteure : Janet Holt, Administratrice de Programme, Programme de développement mondial et de population à la Fondation William et Flora Hewlett. English version >> Photo par Jonathan Torgovnik/Reportage par Getty Images. Les jeunes femmes…

Youth are Shaping the Future of Family Planning

Guest Column from Dr. Frank Strelow, Head of Global HealthCare Programs, Bayer AG | It is an honor for me to start my role as Head of Global HealthCare Programs at Bayer, and to wish everyone a Happy World Contraception Day!

Why do women still die giving birth?

Written by Liz Ford | Every other minute, a woman or girl dies as a result of pregnancy complications or childbirth. Why has the global decline in maternal mortality stalled? According to the latest UN global estimates, 303,000 women a year die in childbirth, or as a result of complications arising from pregnancy. This equates to about 830 women dying each day – roughly one every two minutes.

Virtual Engagement Kit

The ICFP Virtual Engagement Kit will serve as your guide to virtual participation around the 2018 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP). This interactive PDF provides shareable social media content, opportunities to engage with the ICFP digitally, high-resolution ICFP logos, other helpful resources like official conference hashtags and handles, suggested posts, and more!