The World Bank: Keep Reproductive Health Paramount

Washington, DC - April 16, 2007

The World Bank has a long history of supporting and strengthening reproductive health. This is why the reproductive health community was shocked last week when allegations surfaced that the World Bank’s Health, Nutrition and Population Strategy may de-prioritize the importance of family planning and reproductive health services to development progress. Certainly we heard more substantiated rumors that references to family planning were expunged from key country development strategies, Madagascar most notably. Because these initiatives are crucial to attaining the Bank’s goal of eliminating global poverty, the World Bank must maintain and reaffirm their commitment to reproductive health when they review the Health, Nutrition and Population Strategy on April 24th.

In response to these concerns, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, stated, “I want to make it clear personally. I think reproductive health is absolutely crucial.” Family planning and reproductive health play a vital role in improving the lives of women and children, reducing poverty and curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In fact, the World Bank's own World Development 2007 report which cites increased access to comprehensive sex education, contraceptives and safe abortion as key factors to reduce poverty. Effective aid and donor assistance must take as its starting point tried and true development strategies, and one need look no further than the provision of family planning services within the broad spectrum of reproductive health to find such a strategy.

Here at PAI, we are heartened by Paul Wolfowitz’s statement, but we will also watch the April 24th meeting closely to make sure that actions follow these words. PAI urges the World Bank to keep reproductive health and family planning in the priority position they should occupy within the Health, Nutrition and Population Strategy. In addition, they must remain within country development strategies, which are a product of national-level stakeholder processes, particularly as the global donor community transitions from “donor-ship to country ownership.” Decisions based on anything other than facts and a strong evidence-base have no place in any global institution.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.