Global Partnerships & Platforms

120 Under 40: The New Generation of Family Planning Leaders

Cultivating the next generation of leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights

120 Under 40: New Generation of Family Planning Leaders

The 120 Under 40: The New Generation of Family Planning Leaders platform was launched on World Contraception Day in 2015 to recognize and highlight the achievements of the next generation of family planning leaders worldwide. Between 2016 and 2022, the William H. Gates Sr. Institute assembled a cohort of 120 outstanding young leaders with support from Bayer. The 120 Under 40 is now network of young global health leaders in family planning and SRHR that plays a significant role in filling the gaps in global health leadership through positive disruptions and cross-continent mentorship, networking, and training. The project’s international profile aims to increase awareness of family planning as critical to young people’s health and well-being and essential to sustainable global development.

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120 Under 40: Global Impact

Today, 120 Under 40 leaders are continuing to produce groundbreaking work in their local contexts, with many winners going on to achieve international recognition. 120 Under 40 winners continue to engage in leadership training and garner funding for their groundbreaking projects addressing global SRHR needs. As part of the 120U40 trainings, the Global Health Leadership Accelerator (GHLA) aims to address global SRH barriers by providing a unique opportunity for the 120U40 and other aspiring and early global health leaders to develop their leadership skills in SRH and family planning. To date, over 60 120 Under 40 leaders have been trained in leadership and 11 have gone on to become trainers themselves.

The 120 Under 40 Ingenuity fund is a funding opportunity for winners to not only receive additional funding, but also to access a global platform from which to share that idea. This fund is provided with support from Bayer and Pathfinder International, and has funded 20 projects from over 10 countries since 2019.

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Connected Global Program

The Next Generation Leaders Global Program is focused on our efforts to cultivate the next generation of SRHR and gender equity experts and leaders through training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Recognizing that effectively empowering youth is non-negotiable in achieving a sustainable and impactful future, 120 Under 40 winners are active across the Institute’s Global Programs, particularly in Policy, Advocacy, and Community-building. We strive to empower young champions with the tools and training they need to create impactful change through their work.

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Featured Institute Experts

Jordan Freeman, MPH

Co-Chair, Youth & Scientific Subcommittee, ICFP

Jordan Freeman, MPH, is a Program Officer at the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. At the Institute, Jordan manages youth-focused elements of the International Conference on Family Planning and the NextGen Catalyst Initiative. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the International Steering Committee’s Youth Subcommittee at the International Conference on Family Planning (theICFP.org), the largest scientific conference dedicated to family planning and reproductive health in the world.

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About 120 Under 40

120 Under 40: The New Generation of Family Planning Leaders platform is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights, emphasizing youth empowerment and engagement through comprehensive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.