What happens when global funding for family planning is threatened? For Innocent Grant, a family planning advocate from Tanzania, it means returning to the power of evidence, community-rooted solutions, and global collaboration.
In this episode of the Bloomberg School of Public Health’s “Public Health On Call” podcast, titled, “How An Advocate is Thinking About Family Planning,” reflects on the misinformation that continues to shape public perception—including the persistent myth that educating youth about sexual and reproductive health encourages sexual activity. “It’s not true,” he says. “It’s actually to make sure that they are making informed decisions to improve their sexual and social lives.”
As the U.S. considers cutting portions of its international family planning support, Grant calls attention to how integrated SRHR programs—those that connect family planning with economic empowerment, climate justice, and youth well-being—are increasingly under attack. “All of a sudden, these interventions have been demonized. These interventions have been cut.”
Looking ahead, Grant emphasizes the need for evidence-based advocacy and collective action. He highlights the upcoming International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) in Bogotá, Colombia, as a vital space for innovators and implementers to share what’s working and push back against rising opposition. “It’s one of the unique gatherings to leverage and make sure that our work is moving forward—and we are becoming unstoppable.
