Children's Investment Fund Foundation Backs Science in Reproductive Rights

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), a long-time collaborator with the World Health Organization (WHO) and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction), has pledged US$ 7.2 million to the UN’s premier program dedicated to research in human reproduction. This investment arrives at a crucial moment, as significant reductions in health and development funding risk halting, and in certain instances reversing, the substantial advancements made in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

CIFF’s support reflects a shared commitment to protecting and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. Multi-year flexible funding is rare in today’s landscape, and CIFF’s new support to HRP signals strong confidence in HRP’s scientific leadership, mandate, and ability to remain responsive, independent, and impactful as a United Nations (UN) co-sponsored special programme.

Partnership with HRP is essential for the broader sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) ecosystem as it establishes normative guidance and conducts important SRHR research. CIFF’s support to HRP will allow the program to plan and provide priority research, as well as scalable evidence-based guidance and solutions that address the needs of communities and health systems. It will also assist the UN ecosystem in collaborating with countries to adopt and implement that guidance within a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda.

"In the face of increasingly complex challenges to sexual and reproductive health and rights, CIFF’s support strengthens HRP’s ability to drive the latest in science and evidence-backed action globally, respond to new needs and equip UN partners, governments, civil society, research partners, and health workers with powerful tools and scalable solutions," said Pascale Allotey, Director of HRP and WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing.

This strategic partnership combines HRP's scientific expertise with CIFF's catalytic and evidence-based approach, aiming to accelerate and amplify real-world impact through strong science-informed guidance in areas such as contraception, infertility, safe abortion care, self-care, adolescent health, gender-based violence, and more.

“Whilst philanthropy cannot fill the significant gaps left by ongoing cuts to global aid and development budgets, strategic partnerships for development investments can play an invaluable role in allowing important initiatives such as this to continue to operate,” said Miles Kemplay, Executive Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

"CIFF is pleased to support HRP as it continues to fulfill its core mission of generating evidence and fostering partnerships aimed at establishing and advocating for global standards in sexual health and sexual rights."

CIFF has been a dedicated partner to the WHO and HRP for almost ten years, collaborating on various initiatives related to HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health and rights, ending violence against children, nutrition, and health equity. CFF has maintained a long-term partnership with WHO, including HRP, and currently holds US$ 26 million in active investments in WHO covering sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV prevention, nutrition, and violence against children.