Three MSI country programmes are celebrating transformative investments, totalling $44m, from the Gates Foundation who has partnered with MSI to expand access to life-changing reproductive healthcare for 5.7 million underserved women and girls in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Niger.
257 million women and girls globally want to be using contraception but have no access to it. This investment will fuel our partnerships with governments to give women and girls the choices they want, ensuring they are able to make informed decisions about their own bodies and futures.
The foundation’s investment in MSI’s programmes across Nigeria, Ethiopia and Niger represent a flagship initiative to expand reproductive autonomy. It marks a strong partnership between the foundation and MSI, and an endorsement of the deep local and government partnerships and impact delivered by these country programmes.
It will enable our teams to reach the most marginalised people who are often unable to access care, like people displaced by climate and conflict crises, women who live in remote communities, and adolescents.
Reflecting on the grant for MSI Nigeria, Country Director Emmanuel Ajah said:
“Women tell us they want contraception, to have breaks between pregnancies, to have a choice in their healthcare, and we do everything in our power to make that happen. Partnering with the Gates Foundation and the Government of Nigeria, we will scale our services to reach 3.2 million more women and girls with high-quality reproductive choices over the next three years. This will be transformative and help us to meet the unprecedented demand for contraceptive options across Nigeria. We will collaborate with the government of Kano and Kaduna states to empower women and girls with access, changing the course of our young people’s futures.”
Sharing what it means for their programme, MSI Ethiopia’s Country Director Abebe Shibru said:
“It is motivating to see the Gates Foundation put their faith in MSI Ethiopia, acknowledging our position as a leading provider of reproductive healthcare and our deep partnerships across the health system. Our four-year project is rooted in local partnership and is laser-focused on creating impact at scale. We’re excited to change the narrative on family planning and to be able to reach more people who are displaced or living through conflict or beyond the reach of our health system.”
Maiga Younoussa Hamani, Country Director of MSI Niger, shared:
“To be the foundation’s partner of choice is significant to us here at MSI Niger. We face many challenges in Niger when it comes to supporting the health and choices of women and girls. Partnerships like these help us create change that will be here for future generations. Through delivering services, working with government to strengthen health systems, shifting norms and advocacy, we’re proud to support the health of our communities.”
