Faith Plus Family Planning supports faith-based organizations in low- and middle-income countries to engage in policy and budget advocacy for family planning.
Across low- and middle-income countries, faith-based organizations are key health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that these groups deliver 40% of primary health care services — including reproductive, maternal and newborn care — in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Religious leaders and institutions have established trust in their communities and bring a new perspective to policy discussions. The Faith Plus Family Planning initiative is a flexible source of funding and technical support for faith-based organizations to engage in family planning and reproductive health advocacy and government accountability efforts that are aligned with country-level commitments and civil society allies.
With support from Faith Plus Family Planning, faith-based organizations and their advocacy partners mobilized $880,000 in family planning budget allocations from state, county and district governments in sub-Saharan Africa between 2015 and 2019.
In our community, it was taboo to talk about family planning. It was thought that this was against our religion. But we found a way to talk to imams and now they preach about it in the mosque.
In our community, it was taboo to talk about family planning. It was thought that this was against our religion. But we found a way to talk to imams and now they preach about it in the mosque.Aïcha Basue, director, Maman Ansar (Warrior Women)
