Leading Change at ICFP and Beyond 

On the Global Stage at ICFP 2025 

Next week, advocates and health leaders from around the world will gather in Bogotá, Colombia, for the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025)—a global moment to reflect, reimagine, and recommit to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. 

EngenderHealth will be there, spotlighting the bold ideas and partnerships shaping the future of reproductive health, from advancing contraceptive care and expanding abortion access to engaging men as allies in gender equality and SRHR. 

Can’t make it to Bogotá? You can still join the conversation. We’re helping gather reflections from across the global SRHR community to honor USAID’s work in shaping family planning and reproductive health.

Your insights will help inform the USAID Legacy Plenary at ICFP: English | Español | Français 

From the global stage to community stories of courage and change, read on to see how EngenderHealth and our partners are advancing reproductive health and rights around the world. 

Global Impact

Every day, people are finding new ways to create change in their families and across health systems. This month, meet Divya, Dr. Kangiwa, and Thiyanga: three individuals whose leadership and dedication show how access, empathy, and community connection are transforming reproductive health and rights. 

Bringing Reproductive Care Closer to Girls in India 

In Bihar, Divya is helping bring reproductive health care closer to young people, ensuring that girls and adolescents in her community can access the information and services they need to thrive. Meet Divya…

When Funding Fades, Commitment Endures

When USAID cut funding, Dr. Kangiwa and his team in Nigeria found new ways to keep essential health services running, demonstrating how local leadership and persistence can sustain life-saving work even in times of crisis. Read his story…

A Lesson in Respect and Responsibility in Ethiopia 

Thiyanga’s training with EngenderHealth helped him reflect on his own assumptions about abortion and strengthen his commitment to patient-centered, respectful care, ensuring that every woman’s right to choose is met with dignity and compassion. Discover his journey toward compassionate abortion care…

People everywhere are stepping up to advance reproductive health worldwide. Explore more stories of change on our website: Impact Stories. 

Spotlight: Advancing Menstrual Health and Dignity 

“Menstrual health is about more than products. It’s about dignity, equity, and respect. When we normalize these conversations, we transform lives.” — Traci L. Baird, President and CEO, EngenderHealth 

EngenderHealth’s President and CEO, Traci L. Baird, recently joined Gloria’s Foundation for a Talking Circle at Gloria Steinem’s home in New York City, a space that has inspired feminist movements since 1968. She shared how EngenderHealth’s programs advance menstrual health through education, access to products, and advocacy that helps transform communities worldwide. 

Millions of girls and women still face barriers to managing menstruation safely, but collective action and leadership are driving change. Cross-generational conversations like this one will help ensure future generations bring even greater attention to menstrual health and rights. Learn more about EngenderHealth’s work in menstrual health…

Stay Informed: Latest News and Resources 

Safe Cesarean Pilot Moves Forward 

Our Safe Cesarean pilot with Ariadne Labs is moving ahead in India, testing a Cesarean Safety Checklist designed to improve surgical safety for more than 2,800 mothers and newborns. Supported by Project Resource Optimization (PRO) and a generous donor, the pilot will also produce a final implementation package to guide national scale-up and potential global adoption. 

A recent Guardian article highlighted how PRO gave high-impact global health projects a second life after USAID funding cuts. Thanks to this support, life-saving work like ours can continue helping mothers and newborns around the world. Read the article…

Reframing Health Communication in Nigeria 

EngenderHealth is helping redefine how communication drives public health. We recently co-hosted Nigeria’s first National Media Health Dialogue, bringing together government and media leaders to strengthen collaboration and promote evidence-based reporting as a catalyst for health equity and accountability. Read more…

Food, Gender, and Equality: What We Learned in India 

What does food fortification have to do with gender equality? In India, we asked: Who controls decisions about food in households and communities? Do women and girls have the same access to fortified foods as men and boys? And how can nutrition programs break old inequalities instead of reinforcing them? These questions are helping shape gender-transformative approaches that promote better nutrition, health, and equality for everyone. Learn more…

Here are a few reads that are shaping conversations in global health and rights: 

• Why Midwives Matter for SRHR (ICM) — A call to action for a stronger, better-supported global midwifery workforce. The One Million More Midwives campaign urges governments to invest in training, supporting, and sustaining midwives as essential to health and rights. Read more…
• The Downfall of USAID: The Full Story (Shorthand) — Eight months of turmoil under the U.S. aid freeze led to USAID’s collapse, lawsuits, and the loss of U.S. global development leadership. A deep dive into what went wrong and what’s next for global health. Read more… 
• A Bold Reset: Philanthropy’s Chance to Reimagine Global Health Now (Inside Philanthropy) — As global development leaders gather for UNGA80, this piece explores how philanthropy can protect fragile health gains and reimagine a more equitable future amid shrinking aid. Read more…

What You Can Do

We’re proud to share that EngenderHealth’s Let’s Do Something campaign has been named a finalist for The Anthem Awards in Donor & Volunteer Engagement (Health). Let’s Do Something shows how small actions can spark meaningful change for women and girls around the world. Now the public has a chance to weigh in through the Community Voice Award. 

Your vote can help us amplify this work and inspire even more people to take action. 

Other ways to support EngenderHealth: 

• Spread the word: Follow @EngenderHealth on social media and share our posts to inspire change. 
• Shop with purpose: Grab a Let’s Do Something tote or sticker. Every purchase helps expand access to essential care and spreads awareness about reproductive health and rights.
•  Stay connected: Forward this newsletter to a friend or invite them to sign up.

Big change starts with small steps, and your actions help protect health and rights every day. Thank you for standing with EngenderHealth. 

Your Support Makes a Difference 

By donating to EngenderHealth, you help us drive impactful, gender-equitable programs that promote health, equality, and rights. Your support enables us to protect sexual and reproductive rights as fundamental human rights, ensuring that everyone has access to the care they deserve. 

We’d love to hear from you about what you want to see in future newsletters. Contact us at social@engenderhealth.org. 

This newsletter was originally shared over email on October 30, 2025.

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