Generation Equality Forum Paris: PAI Commits $27.2M

Flexible funding to advance universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality

In support of the Generation Equality Forum, which culminates with convenings in Paris and over 100 virtual events between June 30 and July 2, PAI announced today a total monetary commitment of $27 million over the next five years. This commitment advances advocacy for policy and program changes and supports the global movement to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which are central to gender equality.

Our commitment of strategic, technical and financial resources means that partners around the world will have the support they need to see lasting progress on gender equality. No less than one-third of PAI’s financial support will be directed to civil society organizations led by women, youth and LGBTQI+ individuals. Recognizing the outsized role of donor governments in the health policy and funding landscape, our commitment also includes $2.5 million for U.S. government advocacy.

“Achieving SRHR is central to gender equality, and gender equality is the bedrock of economic empowerment and poverty alleviation,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, president and CEO of PAI. “PAI’s commitments are guided by our trust in local communities and dedication to being responsive. Just as flexible funding from PAI donors enables us to drive high-impact advocacy and knowledge sharing at U.S. and global levels, we believe that flexible funding to our partners enables them to be responsive and agile in promoting, protecting and preserving SRHR.”

In addition to financial commitments, PAI has announced the following programmatic commitments:

• Supporting a vibrant SRHR civil society movement: Achieving SRHR is central to gender equality and requires a strong, vibrant and representative civil society to influence funding and policy decisions and hold governments accountable. Over the next five years, PAI will provide unparalleled strategic and technical support, matched with flexible funding, to civil society organizations that are advancing SRHR and gender equality. No less than 30% of PAI’s financial, strategic and technical support will be directed to civil society organizations led by women, youth and LGBTQI+ individuals.
• Advancing evidence for responsive U.S. government and global policies, protocols and funding: PAI will increase its advocacy efforts to strengthen SRHR and gender equality interventions in U.S. government foreign policy and funding. In addition, PAI will bring forward evidence and insights to inform SRHR global policy and guidance to ensure global actions are responsive to local needs.
• Enabling donors and governments to deliver on their Generation Equality Forum commitments: PAI will establish a global accountability mechanism with our network of 96-funded partners across 33 countries for donors and governments to stay on track with their Generation Equality Forum commitments. The global accountability mechanism will also monitor progress, provide strategic and technical support and establish civil society convening opportunities to enable governments and donors to deliver on their promises.

“PAI knows that when we don’t invest in achieving SRHR, gender equality is out of reach,” says Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, PAI’s vice president of policy and advocacy. “The Generation Equality Forum is an urgent reminder that ensuring bodily autonomy, access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and freedom from violence and stigma are essential to achieving health equity and human rights for all.”

The Generation Equality Forum is a global movement for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, and brings together governments, corporations, nongovernmental organizations, youth-led groups and foundations to secure concrete, ambitious and transformative commitments for gender equality.

In addition to driving an urgent advocacy agenda externally, PAI will continue to redress equity and power dynamics within and across its work to ensure that staff, peers and colleagues across the globe are supported without bias or coercion in the quest for gender equality, bodily autonomy and SRHR.

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PAI champions policies that put women in charge of their reproductive health. We work with policymakers in Washington, D.C., and our network of partners around the world to remove roadblocks between women and the services and supplies they need. For 56 years, we’ve helped women succeed by upholding their basic rights. To learn more, visit pai2020s.wpengine.com.