Here's what CIFF says it will do more, and less of

As philanthropy grapples with increased demands and challenges, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation — which recently announced it would pause funding to U.S.-based NGOs — appears to be undergoing its own transformation. CIFF is one of the largest philanthropic foundations globally, dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents. To achieve this mission, it works not only on child protection, health, and development, but also on climate mitigation and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, or SRHR. During a session at the seventh International Conference on Family Planning that explored the role of philanthropy in shaping the future of family planning, CIFF’s executive director for SRHR, Miles Kemplay, offered candid insight into what one of the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations will do more — and less — of. “We all know we are faced with a situation which we know there is a collapse in traditional sources of financing. Our value add as philanthropy needs to be even more clear under these circumstances,” Kemplay said, adding that the foundation is open to feedback on what it could and should be doing better. “We do not always get it right. We are very prone to mistakes and to overconfidence and arrogance. So we want to learn from you,” he said. What remains Kemplay said CIFF remains “completely committed to comprehensive SRHR, family planning, safe abortion care, sexually transmitted infections,” and the prevention of HIV and sexual and gender-based violence, adding “these are fundamental to how our portfolio works.” He also said the foundation is “committed to continuing to create more integrated platforms,” recognizing that individuals needing sexual and reproductive health and rights are the same ones who are hugely affected by climate change or suffering from malnutrition. He said philanthropy as a whole should be “doing a lot more” in advancing SRHR and said it is “a personal responsibility of the foundation to be making the case actively, purposely to other foundations.” “We’re a children’s foundation, and so it absolutely stands to reason that we believe family planning, reproductive health and rights are absolutely fundamental for the lives of children, young people and future generations,” he added. What’s changing But some things are changing. Kemplay said the foundation is moving away from project-based funding. While support for proof-of-concept and research will remain, Kemplay said support for these will be tied to “where we have very clear pathways to scale.” CIFF will also no longer fund service delivery programs that don’t align with national strategies in countries. CIFF recently announced it would pause funding to U.S.-based NGOs because of uncertainty surrounding the policy environment for foreign funders. Kemplay emphasized that the decision is not specific to SRHR. “It affects our entire portfolio. And indeed, the organizations affected are disproportionately outside of the SRHR space,” he said. He described the decision as “extremely painful,” but said the foundation will continue to collaborate and coordinate with U.S. NGOs, describing them as “valuable and vital parts of the ecosystem.” Where it wants to do more But as CIFF scales back support in some areas, it plans to increase direct investments with countries and broaden its partnerships. Kempley said it’s pursuing direct or semi-direct partnerships with countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, and Senegal. Its investment portfolio will also increasingly include francophone West Africa and Central Africa. “This is not instead of our work to support civil society, but it is about deepening our investment in health system strengthening,” he said, adding they plan to work with parliamentary and religious groups as well. He mentioned CIFF’s recent partnership announcement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, where the foundation will support the introduction of new HIV and TB innovations. He said CIFF wants “to do the same for family planning and safe abortion care.” When it comes to focus areas, the foundation will place a “deeper focus on masculinity and masculinity norms, and working on men’s SRHR,” Kemplay said. It is also looking to explore the potential of “femtech” — technological solutions aimed at improving women’s health. And while the foundation moves away from project-specific funding, Kemplay said it is moving toward supporting organizations and their mandates, instead of telling them what to do. “I would say it’s not easy, but there are great examples … where we have moved to much more flexible funding with organizations that would not naturally be traditional partners of a foundation like CIFF,” Kemplay said. “It is a work in progress.” CIFF does not generally fund humanitarian programs, but it recognizes the multiple crises and huge needs in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings. “We are taking an active look at how can our investment strategy support that,” Kemplay said.