The combination of a new Congressional majority and the third International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD-Cairo) in 1994 posed new challenges for U.S. population and family planning overseas assistance. USAID population assistance declined 30% from $542 million ('95) to $373 million ('00) and new legislative restrictions were added. ICPD led to an expanded mandate for USAID's population assistance to address a wider range of reproductive health needs and to pursue more integrated approaches to developing programs and delivering services.
Priorities today include: reaching youth, over one billion of whom are entering their reproductive years; improving quality of family planning and other reproductive health services and stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS; and enhancing self-reliance to improve progress with reduced donor support. NGOs, the commercial private sector, and private foundations must mobilize resources to further expand supply of contraceptives and other commodities needed for family planning and other reproductive health services. In many developing countries, the U.S. remains the largest bilateral population donor, USAID programs continue to provide technical leadership, and use of family planning is increasing. Many millions of couples directly benefit from what has become perhaps the most successful, sustained program in the history of U.S. overseas assistance.
Learning Objectives: The attendee will understand the recent history of the U.S. Population Policy, and be able to guess its future
Keywords: Population, Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: administration