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“The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men." This morning, I awoke in Kuala Lumpur for the first day of Women Deliver and found this quote along with an email: “May have seen this already, but this seemed kind of appropriate for Women Deliver. - Dad”

Nafis Sadik has been called one of the most powerful women in the world. One of the greatest women’s advocates of the twentieth century, Nafis is an obstetrician, author, mother, and global thought leader who, for decades, has emphasized the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a means to women’s empowerment.

To reach the village of Kitugutu, you must be prepared. “The road is not good. You have to move out of your car and walk. It can be terrible, and on a motorcycle—deadly.” None of this stops Harriet Kengonzi, a registered midwife, from making the trip to provide essential family planning, maternal health, and HIV care.

In the 1990s, only 3 percent of married women in Ethiopia used a modern method of contraception. Today, 30 percent do. Dr. Mengistu Asnak explains the "what" and "how" of Ethiopia's family planning success.

In a remote, but densely populated village in Ethiopia, Masreshah Abebe strives to improve the reproductive health of her community through the monitoring and evaluation of data.

Pathfinder's Linda Suttenfield shares a first-hand account of her journey to Ethiopia, where she met Aminaa, a local health worker who is helping her community overcome barriers that prevent family planning and reproductive health care.

Since the Kenyan government outlawed home deliveries by traditional birth attendants (TBAs), many Kenyans--especially those in low income areas--have had to adjust.

Last week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu called upon the next generation of young leaders to "bring about positive change in attitudes and actions" to address HIV and AIDS.

How do we ensure successful social change so that we end harmful traditional practices like female genital cutting for good? We must focus on community buy-in and open dialogue to create new positive practices.