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COVID‑19 and sexual and reproductive health in low and middle‑income countries
- March 31, 2022
- Research
- European voice
- Global agenda
- Quality of aid
This report takes stock of the current evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different aspects of sexual and reproductive health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including through a look at European donor trends related to sexual and reproductive health.
The report concludes that...
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Comprehensive sexuality education is an integral part of education
- March 28, 2022
- Factsheets
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
- Youth
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Urpilainen has committed to increasing the EU Official Development Assistance (ODA) to education in partner countries to 10% and EU Delegations have prioritised education in their programming. Recognising the impact education can have on promoting gender equality, supporting youth and achieving sustainable development, Countdown 2030...
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European Donor Support to SRH/FP - with a spotlight on SRHR: Trends Analysis 2020-21
- January 27, 2022
- Research
- Family planning
- Funding
- Policies
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
The period 2020-2021 was one of the most challenging in recent memory. COVID-19’s fierce sweep across the world has been demanding a bold response that simultaneously safeguards the health, social and economic gains achieved to date.
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the critical global challenges that...
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Team Europe Initiative on sexual and reproductive health and rights
- October 29, 2021
- Factsheets
- European voice
- Funding
- Global agenda
- Policies
The Countdown 2030 Europe consortium has been following with great interest, and welcomes the development of a specific Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights (SRHR) in Sub-Saharan Africa, co-led by the European Commission and six EU member states.
Investing in...
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What's new? May 2021
- May 04, 2021
- Newsletter
- European voice
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
Countdown 2030 Europe puts forward a number of recommendations on the main challenges facing gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) which could bring about real change in the lives of women and girls worldwide. We're talking about the linkages between SRHR and economic justice, digital care...
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Economic empowerment goes hand in hand with sexual and reproductive health and rights
- April 28, 2021
- Videos
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
The realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is a necessary precondition for achieving economic justice. A number of different components together form the basis for economic justice. These components include safe and decent work with equal and fair pay, equal access to resources and opportunities, social protection...
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The link between sexual and reproductive health and rights and the climate crisis
- April 15, 2021
- Videos
- Family planning
- Global agenda
The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It threatens our planet, society, and economy.
Climate-related emergencies, such as extreme weather conditions are increasing, which tend to hit women and girls harder because of gender discrimination and harmful social norms. In the aftermath...
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How sexual and reproductive health and rights can be reflected in the Generation Equality Forum
- March 24, 2021
- Factsheets
- European voice
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
The Countdown 2030 Europe Consortium welcomes the efforts of the government of the French Republic, the government of Mexico and UN Women to convene a high-level conference to advance the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - the Generation Equality Forum (GEF).
Following the...
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Sexual and reproductive health and digitalisation
- March 23, 2021
- Videos
- European voice
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
Digitalisation offers amazing opportunities for health and empowerment around the world, but ensuring equitable participation in the internet age throws up many challenges, and the stakes are highest in vulnerable and underserved communities, particularly for women and girls.
European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning: Trends Analysis 2019-20
- January 25, 2021
- Research
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
- Policies
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
The period 2019-2020 was one of contrasts: on the one hand, 2019 broke new ground for overall European support to SRH/FP – looking at the newest Countdown 2030 Europe donor tracking data, and commitments made by European donors in Nairobi at the ICPD+25 the end of 2019. On the flip...
The link between sexual and reproductive health and rights and the European Green Deal
- January 18, 2021
- Advocacy asks
- European voice
- Gender equality
- Policies
Overcoming the challenges of the climate crisis and environmental degradation is a key priority for the EU, including in its international cooperation.
The European Commission has recognised this, amongst others in the 2020 Communication on the future EU – Africa Strategy that specifically states the EU and...
How digitalisation and sexual and reproductive health and rights can strengthen one another
- January 18, 2021
- Advocacy asks
- European voice
- Family planning
- Gender equality
Digitalisation offers amazing opportunities for health and empowerment around the world, but ensuring equitable participation in the internet age throws up many challenges, and the stakes are highest in vulnerable and underserved communities, particularly for women and girls.
The European Commission has made supporting the digital transformation...
No decent work and economic empowerment without sexual and reproductive health and rights
- January 18, 2021
- Advocacy asks
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
- Gender equality
Sustainable growth and jobs creation are a priority of the European Commission in its internal and external policies. In its recent EU-Africa strategy, the Commission underlines that this push for sustainable growth and jobs “requires [...] universal health coverage, access to quality health services, including family planning, and fighting against...
Private sector engagement in sexual and reproductive health: A look at modalities of donor support
- November 30, 2020
- Research
- Family planning
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
Private sector engagement has received increasing focus in development discourse and practice in recent years, including with regard to sexual and reproductive health. Engagement with the private sector in sexual and reproductive health takes a variety of forms and involves a diverse set of stakeholders, ranging from global corporations to...
How can the European Union protect sexual and reproductive health and rights in COVID-19 times?
- May 27, 2020
- Advocacy asks
- European voice
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Policies
As the COVID-19 pandemic reaches regions with weak health systems and emerging economies, its impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is already massive. This is due to the de-prioritization and disruption in the provision of SRHR services as well as mobility restrictions and changes in health-seeking behaviours.
...The EU's plan to contribute to gender equality worldwide: a unique opportunity to achieve sexual and reproductive health and rights for all
- May 25, 2020
- Advocacy asks
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
- Policies
Gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women will not be possible without the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
SRHR services are critical for women and girls to have healthy lives, to address violence and power relations in their lives, to be...
EU development funding: the need for continued EU leadership on sexual and reproductive health and family planning
- May 11, 2020
- Factsheets
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
According to the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) annual report, in 2018 the EU and its Member States continue to be the world's leading provider of ODA with an overall amount of EUR 74.4 billion.
The European institutions alone remained the fourth biggest...
Humanitarian aid funding to sexual and reproductive health and rights by European donors
- March 02, 2020
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Funding
- Humanitarian aid
- Quality of aid
Despite some increases in financial support for SRHR in emergencies, funding is still inadequate to meet the needs of the growing number of crisis-affected communities and rarely prioritised. In that light, Countdown 2030 Europe committed to work to increase financial and political commitments by European donor countries to SRHR in...
European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning: Trends Analysis 2018-19
- February 04, 2020
- Research
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
- Policies
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
The newest analysis done by Countdown 2030 Europe shows that financial and political commitments have been solidified in 2018-2019, and support was championed in many global fora. The majority of European countries under review (10 out of 12) either increased or maintained funding to SRH/FP, even where in...
Spotlight on Europe - trends and developments from select European donors
- October 28, 2019
- Factsheets
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
European donors have continuously demonstrated commitment towards promoting universal access to sexual and reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP). This agenda is advanced through introducing or reinforcing policy and funding commitments, following pledges as part of FP2020 and other initiatives, such as SheDecides. This is also the case for some...
What's new? September 2019
- September 30, 2019
- Newsletter
- European voice
- Family planning
- Global agenda
In this issue we launch a new interactive tool tracking European donor countries' commitments on reproductive safety and care; we look at the next steps after the inclusion of sexual and reproductive heath in the UN's political declaration on Universal Health Coverage and we consider the new faces of the...
Universal Health Coverage: sexual and reproductive health and rights on the agenda, asks for European governments
- May 29, 2019
- Factsheets
- Family planning
The first UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a major political opportunity to progress the achievement of the SDGs and to contribute to the fulfilment of the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally. It offers the prospect of...
2019 Factsheet: European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning
- March 02, 2019
- Factsheets
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
Despite the global backlash against SRHR and an increasing anti-women’s rights sentiment entering European decision-making spaces, the past year saw financial and political commitments of European donors being solidified. SRH/FP funding largely remained protected, even where cuts to Official Development Assistance were made.
This factsheet looks at...
European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning: Trends Analysis 2017-18
- January 31, 2019
- Research
- European voice
- Family planning
- Funding
- Policies
- Quality of aid
This new Tracking report by Countdown 2030 Europe analyses the most recent trends in SRH/FP policies and funding by European donor countries, collected by Countdown 2030 Europe’s national partners. The report shows that, despite the backlash against SRHR and an increasing anti-women’s rights sentiment entering our...
Universal health coverage: sexual and reproductive health and rights as a top priority
- November 09, 2018
- Factsheets
- Family planning
In this summary briefing we outline critical areas that need to be addressed and included in the conversations in the lead up to the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on universal health coverage (UHC) to achieve universal sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
In a complex global funding...
European donor coordination in developing countries and sexual reproductive health / family planning
- November 05, 2018
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
In the spirit of the international aid effectiveness agenda, the EU is committed to better coordinate, align and harmonise its development assistance with that of its Member States and other like-minded donors. But how does this coordination look like at country level? And how might it benefit sexual and reproductive...
Because She Counts!
- July 13, 2018
- Because She Counts Campaign
- Family planning
- Global agenda
Access to Family planning is essential to ensuring women and girls meet their full potential. When women and girls have access to family planning, they are able to complete their education, create or seize better economic opportunities, and achieve their own goals, and dreams. As a result, entire families,...
Contraceptive supplies financing: what role for donors?
- July 06, 2018
- Advocacy guide
- Funding
The world is facing a contraceptive funding crisis. This leads to women having to choose between feeding their families or accessing family planning services. If funding from donors and governments doesn’t increase beyond current levels, the cost burden on women will become even greater.
Countdown 2030 Europe...
Ensuring support for SRH/FP in EU development funding
- June 08, 2018
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
- Financing mechanisms
The European Union (EU) is a unique actor in the development cooperation field - contributions from EU institutions and its 28 Member States make it the biggest multilateral provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) worldwide.
The EU has been, and still is, one of the strongest supporters...
European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning: Trends Analysis 2016-17
- January 18, 2018
- Research
- Funding
- Family planning
- Global agenda
- Humanitarian aid
- Policies
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
This new Tracking report by Countdown 2030 Europe analyses the most recent trends in SRH/FP policies and funding by European donor countries, collected by Countdown 2030 Europe’s national partners. The report shows that, despite an overall slight decrease in financial expenditure to population assistance and UNFPA in 2016 compared to...
Global Financing Facility – IPPF recommendations ahead of the 6th GFF Investors Group Meeting
- November 01, 2017
- Advocacy asks
- Family planning
- Funding
- Financing mechanisms
The Global Financing Facility (GFF), a financing mechanism in support of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, is currently active in 16 focus countries. In September, the GFF launched the first replenishment for its Trust Fund with a funding target of USD 2 billion. If reached, this will...
Factsheet: European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning
- October 02, 2017
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
- Policies
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
This factsheet is a synopsis of our analysis on European donor financial and policy support to SRH/FP across 12 European donor countries, collected by Countdown 2030 Europe national partners. We have seen a 12% increase in funding to FP despite considerable challenges posed by falling levels of ODA and a...
Access to contraception in Spain
- September 26, 2017
- Videos
- European voice
- Family planning
You wouldn’t expect access to contraception to be an issue in EU countries like Spain, would you?
But too many girls and women are still being denied the freedom to make their own reproductive choices. And it is vulnerable people who face the greatest obstacles when it...
Countdown 2030 Europe: "Special Family Planning Summit Newsletter"
- August 03, 2017
- Newsletter
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
- Humanitarian aid
- Policies
Countdown 2030 Europe participated at the Family Planning Summit in London on 11 July, 2017, which created a renewed energy around family planning, building on the efforts of the vibrant sexual and reproductive health community. An estimated $5 billion was pledged to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services,...
SheDecides: Spotlight on Countdown 2030 Europe Countries
- July 07, 2017
- Advocacy guide
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
This report, commissioned by Countdown 2030 Europe, provides an initial overview of the commitments to date by Countdown 2030 Europe's country governments as part of the SheDecides initiative.
The analysis showcases that so far, €84 million Euros has been committed by six Countdown 2030 European governments, and...
Solutions to Power Sustainable Development: Harnessing The Demographic Dividend
- June 02, 2017
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
Many of the world's least developed countries struggle with high fertility rates and low development. The current demographic boom means we have the largest generation of young people in history.
This contributes to an economic surge in countries where there are increasing numbers of young people in employment,...
Universal Health Coverage: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights on the Agenda
- April 25, 2017
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Global agenda
- Policies
This paper builds upon a previous version jointly written by Countdown 2030 Europe and Action for Global Health. It seeks to show how the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of universal health coverage (UHC) and its vision of the social determinants of health underpinning UHC relate to sexual and reproductive...
Distorting the market: Changing the conversation on contraceptive security
- April 21, 2017
- Advocacy asks
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
- Financing mechanisms
- Quality of aid
We are halfway to 2020 — the year the global community promised to have delivered modern contraception to more than 120 million women and girls who needed them, but lacked access to them in 2016. To deliver this commitment, we must ensure contraceptive security.
On 26 October 2016, Countdown 2030 Europe,...
Global Financing Facility – IPPF recommendations ahead of the 5th GFF Investors Group Meeting
- April 20, 2017
- Advocacy asks
- Family planning
- Funding
- Financing mechanisms
The Global Financing Facility (GFF) is a financing mechanism in support of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health that was launched at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa in 2015. It is currently active in 16 focus countries. The GFF Investors Group, which...
Joining the Dots - How Investment in Family Planning Safeguards Women's Human Rights
- November 07, 2016
- Videos
- Family planning
- Funding
- Global agenda
Access to family planning information, supplies and services is essential to women’s health, to gender equality, to human rights—and to sustainable global development. When women and girls can decide freely the number and spacing of their children, if any, they are more likely to finish education, participate in paid employment...
Joining Voices: Family planning film from Tanzania
- October 03, 2016
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
This short film raises the voice of marginalised in hard to reach areas and the impact lack of family planning has on their life. It also describes governments efforts to reach their FP2o20 and the urgent need to invest resources and work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that everyone has...
Joining voices: The women of Kanai Mahila Mandal in India
- August 01, 2016
- Research
- Family planning
- Southern champions
Sustainable Development Goals and Family Planning 2020
- August 01, 2016
- Advocacy guide
- Family planning
- Global agenda
A guide for civil society organisations showing the linkages between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and FP2020 and guidance how to advocate for family planning in the SDG implementation.
FP2020 progress for youth in Benin
- July 15, 2016
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
- Youth
FP2020 progress for youth in Benin. In this interview youth champion Kader Avonnon, Regional President and National Treasurer, Mouvement d’Action des Jeunes Bénin, reflects on Benin's commitments to FP2020 and role of young people.
"We, young people of Benin, need a decree that will ensure free modern contraception for adolescents...Sustainable Development Goals and human rights: an introduction for SRHR advocates (IPPF)
- May 31, 2016
- Advocacy guide
- Global agenda
In September 2015, UN Member States adopted an ambitious new global framework – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the centre of the Agenda are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals and 169 targets across social, economic and environmental areas of sustainable development, which UN...
European Donors for Family Planning
- May 15, 2016
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Global agenda
- European voice
Countdown 2015 Europe’s factsheet for reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) community highlights European donor country support for RH/FP in 2015.
In 2015, European countries continued to firmly support RH/FP through their policy commitments in international cooperation.
Globally this contributed to RH/FP featuring prominently within the Sustainable Development Goals. In...Four priorities for the High-level Political Forum 2016 ‘Ensuring that No One is Left Behind’
- April 30, 2016
- Advocacy asks
- Global agenda
The 2016 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) will be the first since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. Accordingly, much focus will be on discussing plans and strategies for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and approaches for translating the SDGs to national contexts. The HLPF’s theme Ensuring That No One...
Why we need to be serious about sexual and reproductive health and rights
- April 15, 2016
- Factsheets
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Global agenda
Universal and comprehensive access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is needed to save lives, realise human rights, achieve gender equality and achieve sustainable development.
The world remains far from achieving SRHR for all, and the continued neglect of SRHR only exacerbates an already dramatic reality. Read...Joining Voices: Life without a family planning
- March 24, 2016
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
This is a powerful video produced in Zimbabwe. It shows the contrasting lives of families that do and do not have access to rights based family planning. It explains how Zimbabwe can increase contraceptive prevalence rate and reduce unmet need for contraceptives.
...Sustainable Development Goals: A SRHR CSO guide for national implementation (IPPF)
- January 31, 2016
- Advocacy guide
- Global agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a framework of 17 goals and 169 targets across social, economic and environmental areas of sustainable development, which United Nations (UN) Member States have committed to making a reality over the next 15 years.
The purpose of this paper is to set out what...
“CONNECTING THE DOTS” Accountability in the new SDG Era: Opportunities and Challenges
- January 28, 2016
- Factsheets
- Global agenda
Countdown 2015 Europe’s latest factsheet for FP/RH community stresses the importance of working jointly on accountability at different levels to increase impact.
It highlights the key elements of accountability and explores strengths and weaknesses of accountability at different levels, using examples of Countdown 2015 Europe Consortium work in Europe.
Read...
Joining Voices: Overcoming challenges to family planning in Zambia
- January 26, 2016
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
This documentary shows the benefits of working with Community Based Distributors to provide contraceptives to people who live in remote areas of Zambia. It shows an example of Peter and Felistus who are farmers in a rural area in Zambia. Every 3 months, Felistus walks for more than 4 hours...
Joining Voices: Spotlight on Family planning
- January 01, 2016
- Advocacy asks
- Family planning
- Policies
- Southern champions
10 advocacy tools developed by Joining Voices advocacy project: ‘Spotlight on Family Planning’.
These two-page snapshots from ten countries - Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan - demonstrate progress governments towards FP2020 commitments that were made at the London Family Planning Summit in 2012. They...
Joining Voices: Mahtab Rashidi - a Bold Crusader
- December 15, 2015
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
This is documentary describes challenges faced in supporting the rights of women and girls in Pakistan. This film unveils a role of Ms. Mehtab Rashidi a champion of Rahnuma-FPAP who challenged religious leaders and gained support from political powers on the early child marriage act. Mrs Rashidi is a highly...
Recommendations on Open Consultation on Indicators Proposed by IAEG-SDGs Following IAEG-SDGs Meeting 26-28 October 2015 ‘Consultation on Green Indicators’.
- November 06, 2015
- Advocacy asks
- Global agenda
Countdown 2030 Europe recommendations on open consultation on indicators proposed by IAEG-SDGs following IAEG-SDGs meeting 26-28 October 2015 consultation on Green Indicators. Read full recommendations.
Joining Voices: The ‘very good men’ of Priyo Utomo, Indonesia
- September 23, 2015
- Research
- Family planning
- Southern champions
Joining Voices: The innovative women of Nuansa Mandiri, Indonesia
- September 23, 2015
- Research
- Family planning
- Gender equality
- Southern champions
Joining Voices: Family Planning Ends Poverty
- July 14, 2015
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
The film is based in Liberia and shows the main barriers to access to family planning due to traditional beliefs, public sentiment and lack of education. It includes stories from two families, one that has access to family planning and the other it doesn’t. The films showcases the important role...
Joining Voices: No More Early Pregnancies
- July 14, 2015
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
- Youth
‘No More Early Pregnancies’ conveys a story of adolescent girls and teenage pregnancies. Many adolescents in Benin are sexually active and require Comprehensive Sexual Education and choice of Family Planning methods. The film reveals the challenges women face in accessing rights-based family planning in a country where 35% of adolescents...
Joining Voices: Womb in Resonance
- March 05, 2015
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
Womb in Resonance film reveals the challenges women face in accessing rights-based family planning in the Philippines. The film showcases stories from few families living in rural settings and the impact unwanted pregnancies have on their lives. Over 30% of maternal mortality in the Philippines can be removed with the...
FP and SRHR Highlights in Global Financing Facility consultation
- January 01, 2015
- Advocacy asks
- Funding
IPPF and the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC) have summarised the key points relating to family planning and SRHR in the ‘Consultations on updating the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health: Perspectives on the Global Financing Facility’ report authored by The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health...
Joining Voices: Delivering family planning in Kenya
- January 01, 2015
- Research
- Family planning
- Southern champions
Joining Voices: Postcard to hand to your Member of Parliament
- January 01, 2015
- Advocacy asks
- Family planning
Is your government delivering on its FP2020 commitment? Joining Voices has developed a FP2020 Postcard with three key action points, designed to be a concise resource which you can hand to your parliamentary representative.
Joining Voices: If I had known
- September 30, 2014
- Videos
- Family planning
- Southern champions
"If I had known" tells the story of Beatrice Akoth in Kenya who has had no access to family planning and has struggled to cope with 9 children. Her daughter is determined to have a different life and has been happy with the family planning services she received from IPPF’s...
HANDBOOK: The Unmet Need for Family Planning: Advocacy Tools for Stating the Case for Meeting the Need
- December 01, 2012
- Advocacy guide
- European voice
- Family planning
- Global agenda
“The Unmet Need for Family Planning: Handbook of Advocacy Tools for Stating the Case for Meeting the Need" is designed for advocates in Europe to promote increased European donor support for addressing the need for familyplanning in developing countries. It may be useful for advocacy with a wide range of...
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