Thomson Reuters Foundation: Contraceptive use gaining momentum in world’s poorest countries
“The use of contraceptives is gaining momentum worldwide and preventing millions of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths each year in the world’s poorest countries, experts said on Tuesday. Nearly 40 million more women and girls use modern contraceptives now compared to five years ago across 69 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, according to a report by advocacy group Family Planning 2020 (FP2020)…” (Peyton, 12/4).

Devex: FP2020 reports progress on family planning, but faces an uphill battle
“… However, rates of progress are still falling short of what is needed to reach the partnership’s targets and those set by the Sustainable Development Agenda. … According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, bilateral funding for family planning declined in 2016 for the second year in a row, and reverted back to 2013 levels at $1.19 billion. Although funding from the U.S. decreased in 2016, it still accounted for 45 percent of donor contributions. But [Beth Schlachter, executive director of FP2020,] said the full effects of the ‘global gag rule,’ reinstated by President Donald Trump in early 2017, are likely to start being felt next summer…” (Edwards, 12/5).