JOICFP is a Japan-based international NGO active in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including family planning, maternal health and HIV/AIDS, where it works to improve the health status of women, men and young people of the world. Established in 1968 under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, JOICFP grew out of a desire to share the lessons of family planning and maternal and child health that flourished in Japan after World WarⅡas a community-based movement oriented toward preventive health．Since then, JOICFP has seen its activities spread to over 36 countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa Regions and Latin America where community people remain central to all efforts.
JOICFP evolved out of the “Humanistic Family Planning” initiative which made its international debut in the 1970s under JOICFP Founder Chojiro Kunii. A progressive people-centred approach that focused on individual well-being, Kunii’s strategy stood in contrast to the then-popular top-down population policy based on a “macro” perspective of population issues. JOICFP’s consistent focus on the individual developed out of this far-sighted reproductive health orientation toward population issues.
To promote of family planning, JOICFP Founder Chojiro Kunii integrated family planning services with parasite control. The immediate and obvious health benefits of parasite elimination made it ideal as an education tool and entry point into communities for initiating family planning movements. Expanding upon this model, JOICFP sought and used other “triggers” to motivate the community as it applied the “Integrated Approach” in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Family planning was promoted as a community-based movement in post-war Japan by health personnel and community volunteers. Its goal was not population control but rather preventive health and empowerment of women, and it was fueled by the need to avoid unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Building on the desire of people to improve their lives, the movement was implemented alongside stakeholders within the community. These collaborative endeavors are the essence of the community participatory approach currently advanced by JOICFP.
