News

At Pathfinder International, data is a critical component of our work. Throughout the year, our team tracks the progress of our programs using a set of global indicators. We're pleased to share some of the highlights of the report below.

Purnima Mane advocates for increased family planning funding and identifies political will and a focus on community-based work as two of the most important factors in our efforts to advance the status of women and girls around the world.

Asked how best the contraceptive needs could be met, Dr. Purnima Mane, president and chief executive officer of Pathfinder International, told IPS the United Nations and the international community need to continue advocating for increased funding – domestic and international – for access to contraception and for the integration of family planning into universal health coverage in all possible forums and through broader partnerships across sectors.

Pathfinder is pleased to announce a new three-year grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in support of crucial work in West Africa targeting the unmet need for contraception among young married adolescents in Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Pathfinder International was recently named one of three NGOs chosen by Merck for Mothers to lead efforts to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk states in India.

MSD for Mothers recently announced the launch of its global initiative to reduce maternal mortality in India. It is partnering with three NGOs to improve the quality of healthcare received by pregnant women in India.

This week Merck for Mothers announced a new initiative to improve maternal health throughout India, naming Pathfinder as one of three nonprofit partners to carry out work to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk communities in the country.

By allying with the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, Pathfinder International with World Health Partners and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood with Gram Vaani, Merck will be able to help nearly 500,000 pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

This Q&A with Pathfinder's Strengthening Communities Through Integrated Programming (SCIP) discusses our unique approach to providing reproductive health care in Mozambique's Nampula Province as well as successes and challenges associated with the project.

The Governor of Nampula province has welcomed the SCIP team with enthusiasm, highlighting the tremendous potential of the project to improve health conditions in communities across the 14 focus districts. He committed to “opening the doors” with key administrators and directed SCIP to work with the Unit of Coordination for Nampula Development, which coordinates between civil society partners in the province.

Pathfinder International was recently named one of three NGOs chosen by Merck for Mothers to lead efforts to reduce maternal mortality in some of the most at-risk states in India.

"We are launching the programme in India as part of our global initiative. We would be investing $10 million over the next three years in this initiative," MSD India Manging Director K G Ananthakrishnan told reporters here.

Pathfinder is pleased to be one of the organizations recently selected by MSD for Mothers to address maternal morbidity and mortality in India. The initiative, which was officially launched this week, targets some of the most at-risk states in India.

“We have made great strides towards Millennium Development Goal 5, but we know there’s more work to do to reach that target,” Mamta Sharma, chairperson, National Commission for Women said speaking at the India launch. “These new partnerships demonstrate innovative ways of working together to address this issue and bring India closer to our goal.”

Pathfinder's Emeritus Advisor Judy Kahrl and Major Gift Officer Leila Percy discuss the importance of family planning in light of the Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights' recent lobbying trip to the Maine state capital.

“So many young women today don't have an idea what struggles our generation fought to secure reproductive rights,” said Judy Kahrl of Arrowsic, the founder of GRR. "Access to family planning is incredibly important. By ensuring that women and men up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level have access to effective and affordable family planning services we can save the state money by lowering the unintended pregnancy rate."

This week, MSD, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other global health leaders announced a new public-private partnership that will increase access to contraceptive implants in some of the world’s poorest countries.

The International Fellowships Program leaves a legacy as the Ford Foundation closes out the ten year project, including the Nigeria-based program led by Pathfinder International.

According to Farouk Jega, the country representative for Pathfinder International, Nigeria, 175 fellows have been recruited into the Nigeria programme since 2001.

He also said 44 per cent are women, while 56 per cent are men. He said 11 percent of the fellows are “people with special needs”.

First published in The Daily Monitor, this news article discusses the gains made by Pathfinder's Integrated Family Health Program in Ethiopia and the pivotal role the project plays in achieving Millennium Development Goals.

The Technical Advisory Committee of the Integrated Family Health Program (IFHP) commended the gains achieved by the program in the North Gondar Zone of the Amahara Regional State. It also said that IFHP assumes pivotal role in achieving Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health.

Pathfinder is honored to be chosen as one of the organizations in the Raise for Women Challenge. This is a unique challenge that will help raise critical funds for Pathfinder programs as well as increase visibility for Pathfinder’s work.

On Monday, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in USAID v AOSI, a case that challenges a law requiring recipients of US funds for international HIV and AIDS work to have “a policy explicitly opposing prostitution.”

On April 22, the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could have dramatic consequences for NGOs, faith-based groups, and other civil society members.

Pathfinder's "No Joke. Choice Matters." was chosen as this year's DoGooder Funny for Good video winner. Watch Pathfinder's video and learn more about winners in the other categories.

While at the Nonprofit Technology Conference last week in Minneapolis, we were on hand to see the winners of the 2013 DoGooder Video Awards announced. Four finalists were chosen for each category and then the winners were selected by the public.

Pathfinder is saddened by the senseless tragedy yesterday during the Boston Marathon. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this horrific act. We are thankful that all staff and family of staff at our headquarters in Watertown, MA are safe.

Recognizing the best in video for social good, YouTube announced the four winners of its DoGooder Video Awards Friday. The categories celebrate videos that tap into the power of the social web to garner support for good causes.

What Mason found most remarkable about this year's winners is how well they all understand YouTube as a social platform.

"The videos are social, shareable, informative, entertaining and surprising. Multiple finalists collaborated with YouTube channels and creators to reach an even wider audience. Finally, the winners had a clear call to action outlining how to make a difference," she said.

Pathfinder is pleased to announce that our “No Joke. Choice Matters” video won the 2013 DoGooder “Funny for Good” Video Award today.

Continuing the Administration’s robust investment in the health and rights of girls and women, President Obama's budget includes increases for family planning and reproductive health programs, as well as maternal and child health.