With our partners UNFPA and Women Deliver, global citizens caleld for women's equality

WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Today, 222 million women still have no access to family planning information and services, yet projections show that family planning demand will increase to more than 900 million by 2015. Many studies show that investments in family planning lead to benefits across a range of development factors including food, water, health, economic development. However, investment in family planning remains one of the least well-funded areas in global health.

This means that every year the world loses an estimated USD 15 billion in productivity because women and newborns die during pregnancy and childbirth. The highest rate of maternal mortality is in conflict-affected countries. At the London Summit on Family Planning in July 2012, donors pledged an additional US $2.6 billion to reduce the number of women in developing countries with an unmet need for contraception, but no commitments were specifically focused on reaching girls and women in crisis-affected areas.

HOW DID GLOBAL CITIZENS RESPOND?

The It Takes Two campaign has encouraged several reproductive health companies to take the lead in supporting universal access to reproductive health information and services, including family planning in developing countries. 10,000 Global Citizens called on the private sector by asking to donate 2% or more of their profits to advocacy efforts, aimed to reduce the unmet need for family planning in the developing world.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

In 2013, global citizens engaged five companies:

• Naked Condoms committed 2 million condoms to Uganda as well as 20% of all future profits to family planning initiatives.
• ONE Condoms invested 2% of all profits to projects in aid of girls and women.
• L Condoms committed to donating 1 free condom for every condom sold to regions where women need contraception the most.
• WomanCare Global committed to donating 100,000 soft cups with a value of $250,000.
• The Female Health Company renewed their commitment to invest $14 million USD over the course of 3 years for family planning efforts and donate 5% of all products to the cause.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

In the lead up to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London this year, we are inviting reproductive health product companies to shine a spotlight on the unmet need for contraception in crisis-affected countries. GPP is working with our partners at Women Deliver to call on the private sector and donor community to make financial commitments that will go towards reaching women in crisis-affected areas with contraception.