PAI Catalyst Session with Dr. Philip Anglewicz

PAI Catalyst Session: Data, Dialogue, and Determination Ahead of ICFP 2025

As the global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) community prepares to gather in Bogotá for the 2025 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) from November 1–6, PAI hosted a Catalyst Session with Dr. Philip Anglewicz, Director of the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins University and Chair of the ICFP 2025 International Steering Committee.

Moderated by PAI President and CEO Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, the October 27 conversation explored how data and advocacy intersect to advance SRHR—and how this year’s conference, the first ever hosted in Latin America, can serve as a defining moment for the field.

Nabeeha opened by acknowledging the challenging backdrop for SRHR advocacy: constrained financing, rising debt burdens, and organized opposition to reproductive rights. Yet, she emphasized, the field remains resilient. She noted that even as we confront well-resourced movements working to reverse progress, our collective action can—and must—evolve toward stronger systems and greater access.

Measurement Matters

Drawing on his background as a demographer and his leadership of the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) platform, Phil highlighted the transformative potential of person-centered data.

“The future of measurement is person-centered,” he explained. “It’s about reflecting how people make decisions and what those decisions mean for their lives.”

He noted that while traditional indicators like contraceptive use and unmet need remain essential, the next frontier lies in measuring agency, choice, and lived experience. These approaches, he said, allow evidence to better illuminate inequities and inform more responsive policies and programs.

The discussion also addressed the fragility of the global data ecosystem. With the dismantling of USAID and uncertainty surrounding the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program, critical data platforms that underpin SRHR policy and investment are at risk. Phil called for new models of collaboration and financing to protect these systems, while Nabeeha underscored the importance of keeping data accessible, reliable, and accountable to communities.

The Power of Connection

Both leaders emphasized the importance of connection—between researchers and advocates, data and decision-making, and local and global action. Phil noted that data only has power when it moves people, urging the SRHR community to bridge disciplines and reach new audiences.

The discussion also touched on the evolving language of the field—how and when to use family planning versus SRHR—and what those distinctions mean for inclusion and advocacy.

“Words shape policy, perception, and participation,” Nabeeha observed. “How we use them matters.”

Despite the uncertainty facing the movement, Phil ended on a note of optimism:

“It can’t not give you hope. I mean, you have to be hopeful when you’re surrounded by everyone in the field that’s mobilized and ready to go.”

A Historic Gathering in Bogotá and Taking It Forward

Phil shared that ICFP 2025 is on track to be the largest conference in its 15-year history, with more than 5,200 abstract submissions and record in-person and virtual participation.

“ICFP is a barometer for where the field is,” he said. “The enthusiasm we’re seeing demonstrates just how strong and resilient this community remains.”

Hosting the conference in Latin America, he added, offers a unique opportunity to learn from the region’s leadership and innovation in advancing SRHR—often in the face of limited resources and political resistance. Nabeeha noted that this milestone carries both personal and strategic meaning:

“It’s a moment to elevate Latin America’s lessons in resilience, the role of local civil society, and rights-based progress—and connect those lessons to global advocacy for equitable access.”

Phil emphasized that he hopes participants leave ICFP 2025 inspired not only by the scale of the gathering but by its substance—the chance to engage across sectors, expand conversations, and build new bridges of understanding. He said he wants attendees to strengthen their ability to communicate the value of family planning and reproductive health to audiences outside the field, noting that “we never have to convince each other of its importance, but we do need to learn to reach those who may not yet understand why it matters.”

He urged the community to elevate research that links family planning to broader outcomes such as economic empowerment, climate resilience, and sustainable growth, and to identify new areas of inquiry and collaboration through deliberate cross-regional and cross-sector dialogue. Ultimately, Phil said his hope is that participants carry forward the spirit of ICFP—its energy, equity, and evidence—so that the ideas shared in Bogotá translate into lasting policy action and progress for SRHR everywhere.

A Soundtrack for Equality

The session opened with “Solo Igualdad,” a new anthem created by Tanzanian artist and advocate William Otuck for ICFP 2025. From its opening verse—“We met in shining Colombia, after I cross over the seas”—to its refrain, “Solo igualdad!” (“Only equality!”), the song captures the spirit of solidarity, optimism, and shared purpose uniting the SRHR community. It reminds us that advocacy also lives in creativity, rhythm, and voice. It is a fitting soundtrack for ICFP 2025—an invitation to stand together, act boldly, and move forward in harmony.

Watch the full Catalyst Session below to hear the complete conversation.
Con subtítulos en español | Avec sous-titres en français 

Listen to “Solo Igualdad” and read more at William Otuck’s “Solo Igualdad” Sets the Tone for Equity Through Action at ICFP 2025 – ICFP