Canada celebrates International Women’s Day with a show of support for sexual and reproductive rights, aid groups see their licenses revoked with little explanation, and Devex reports on an ill-prepared health system in Iraq. This week in development:
On International Women’s Day, the development community took stock of an ongoing battle to make gender parity real in development leadership — and gender equality possible in communities around the world. With leadership transitions just completed or still underway for some of the most influential international organizations — including the United Nations, World Health Organization, and Global Fund — scrutiny of the development community’s commitment to appointing women to the industry’s top jobs is greater than ever. At the same time, persistent gaps in protecting women and girls from sexual violence and policies that threaten to roll back sexual and reproductive health access continue to challenge efforts to create a more equal world.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday — International Women’s Day — a $650 million commitment for sexual and reproductive health and rights. The three-year funding commitment will finance a range of activities, including contraception, reproductive health, legal abortion, sexuality education and advocacy work, the Globe and Mail reported, calling the announcement “a sharp reorientation of Canada’s foreign aid strategy.” Canada’s commitment is the largest of a few recent announcements that either implicitly or explicitly respond to U.S. President Trump’s reinstatement and expansion of policies restricting funding for global health organizations that provide abortions — known as the “global gag rule.” Australia announced $7.3 million in funding for the International Planned Parenthood Foundation last month, and a “She Decides” fund for family planning has raised nearly $200 million from donors including Sweden, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Norway and Luxembourg.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.