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With more than 35 years of experience, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been the world leader in supporting voluntary planning programs in the developing world. By enabling women and couples to have the number of children they want and by helping TIMELINE them space their children three to five years apart, family planning has markedly improved maternal and .

Before 1965 1965–1969 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

After passing the Foreign Assistance In 1965, President Johnson declares that he will “seek new ways to use our USAID sponsors pilot projects and Family planning programs expand USAID stresses quality of The Office of & Reproductive Act in 1961, Congress authorizes knowledge to help deal with the explosion in and the growing develops -based to address such critical issues as issues, including women's Health (Pop/RH) becomes part of the newly research on family planning and scarcity of world resources.” distribution systems that bring maternal/child health and needs, and also recognizes established Bureau for . The population issues, including the family planning information and population and the environment. the need for male involvement focus of Pop/RH work remains constant, but provision of family planning services door-to-door. in family planning. As the decade there are new emphases on contraceptive information to couples who 1965 progresses, young people’s needs security and combating HIV/AIDS through request it. 1969 also receive increasing attention. family planning. Male involvement and, through USAID population and 1982 the new YouthNet program, the reproductive program President Nixon describes 1972 health needs of adolescents and young adults USAID issues a policy paper 1963 begins. as “one of the remain important program areas. stating that family planning Addressing the World Food most serious challenges to USAID’s Office of Population programs will be based on Congress, President Kennedy The U.S. Government adopts a destiny in the last third begins supporting reproductive fundamental principles of 1993 2000 recognizes that rapid population plan to reduce birth rates in of this century.” health training and international growth in under-developed developing countries through its surveys, such as the Demographic voluntarism and informed choice. USAID announces a policy recognizing President Clinton rescinds the countries has become a serious on Hunger and Health Surveys (DHS). DHS genital cutting as “a harmful practice that The Office of Population is Mexico policy. concern. It is “too often the and investments in family established to provide leadership, are large national household violates the health and of highest where hunger is already planning programs. initiative, coordination, technical surveys that provide data for women and hinders development.” program monitoring and the most prevalent.” guidance, and assistance in 1984 developing and conducting evaluation. 2001 population/family planning President Reagan announces the 1993 President Bush reinstates the Mexico City 1966 activities. “,” a regulation policy. The policy does not restrict that prohibits non-U.S. USAID and its cooperating organizations from providing post- Congress amends the Food For 1973 nongovernmental organizations agencies spearhead Maximizing care or from treating injuries or illnesses Peace Act to authorize USAID to receiving USAID population Access and Quality (MAQ), an The Helms Amendment to the caused by legal or illegal . use funds to manufacture and End of the 1960s assistance funding (either directly initiative to improve service 1961 Foreign Assistance Act distribute medical supplies, or through delivery and to better serve clients. prohibits USAID from promoting 2002 including contraceptives. USAID takes a leadership role in sub-awards) from using their own or funding abortion. providing and or other non-USAID funds to The Office of Population/Reproductive Health contraceptives to developing provide or promote abortion formally established a Population- countries. as a family planning method. Environment program in response to 1995 legislative language in the FY02 Foreign 1974 Operations Appropriations Act, stating that an 1968 USAID launches its five-year unspecified portion of funds allocated for President Ford tells the World FOCUS on Young Adults With strong bipartisan support, family planning and reproductive health should Population Conference in Bucharest reproductive health program. Congress allots foreign assistance be used “in areas where population growth that how the world copes with its for family planning. End of 1980s threatens or endangered .” burgeoning population is “vital to the future of mankind.” USAID makes its first purchase of USAID recognizes a “ 2003 gap” between the cost of 1998 contraceptives for distribution in New guidelines update USAID's 1998 developing countries. population programs and donor/ public sector funding. USAID Congress enacts the Tiahrt Programmatic Technical Guidance on engages the private sector to amendment, reaffirming and integrating family planning and maternal/child meet the growing need. elaborating voluntary standards for health with services for preventing HIV/AIDS family planning projects. and other sexually transmitted diseases. The guidelines include new information about effective integration of family planning into HIV programs and HIV counseling and 1999 services into family planning programs.

World population tops 6 billion. 2009 President Barack Obama rescinds the Mexico City policy. USAID Family Planning and •To increase access to family planning and Reproductive Health reproductive health services, USAID intro- duced such innovations as door-to-door Program distribution, mobile clinic services, and employee-based programs. Family Planning A Histor y of Achievemen t

• USAID programs have trained networks •Since USAID's family planning program began in of , healers, and traditional birth TIMELINE 1965, the average number of children per family in attendants to provide family planning the developing world (excluding ) has services. These networks increase the dropped from 6 to 4. quality of family planning/reproductive health services and their availability. • USAID provides 35 to 40 percent of donor-provid- ed contraceptives to the developing world and sup- • Private sector initiatives have expanded plies nearly 30 family planning programs in 20 contraceptive , pursued countries with technical and logistical support. joint projects with commercial provi- ders, worked with media and entertain- ment industries in communication •Contraceptive use has increased in many parts of campaigns, and encouraged employers to the world. In Brazil, a country that has "graduated" include family planning in health from USAID family planning assistance, contracep- benefits packages. tive use exceeds the 50 percent mark.

• USAID helps governments review • USAID supports the Demographic and Health policies, restrictive or unnecessary Surveys, the world's largest survey research effort. regulations, and product bans that are Since 1972, results from more than 70 countries barriers to private sector involvement in have revolutionized our understanding of popula- offering family planning/reproductive tion and health dynamics. health services.

•Support for safer and more effective family planning methods has brought many technical advances, including meth- ods, improved oral contraceptives, barrier meth- ods, and NORPLANT™.

• USAID works to improve . Contraceptive security exists when every person is able to choose, obtain, and use high-quality con- traceptives whenever she or he wants them.

(Continued) U.S. Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20523 www.usaid.gov