Region
Africa
Focus Areas
- Adolescents & Youth
- Climate & Health
- Contraception & Family Planning
- HIV & AIDS
- Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
- Primary Health Care
Approaches
- Country-Led Strategy: A Foundation for Localization
- Digital Health Innovation
- Gender Equity
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Local Capacity Strengthening
Pathfinder Uganda has been operating since the 1950s, covering all regions of the country with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights; maternal, neonatal, and child health; youth integration; gender inclusion; climate resilience; and HIV and AIDS care. Across Uganda, Pathfinder is working to strengthen health systems, provide modern contraception and quality reproductive health care to those who need it, and work with adolescents and youth so they can determine their futures.
Strengthening Health Systems
Pathfinder implements programs led and owned by Ugandans, who can keep services going long after we leave. We connect communities and health systems, strengthening the capacity of community resource persons including village health technicians, local leaders, and champions to deliver and demand accountability for quality health care. We engage multiple sectors, such health, education, gender, finance, planning, and economic development, to address the multisectoral barriers to impeding access to quality reproductive health care.
Pathfinder Uganda leverages existing structures to maximize its impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights and economic empowerment. We identify existing institutions, organizations, and frameworks that already have an influence, tapping into local expertise, resources, and networks to deliver sustainable, scalable solutions.
Adolescents and Youth
Uganda is home to 5 million child brides. Of these, 1.3 million are married before age 15. Thirty-four percent of women aged 25-49 are married before the age of 18. In Uganda, Pathfinder focuses on the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of young people—nearly half of Uganda’s population, empowering them to make healthy reproductive choices. We make sure a full range of contraceptive methods are always available, so people of all ages can choose the option that works for them.
Gender Equity
Pathfinder partners with communities to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and other negative beliefs and practices that affect reproductive health, girl child education, and women’s participation in multiple economic activities, so women and men, girls and boys have equal opportunities and can freely access reproductive health services.
Building Resilience
We mobilize remote communities to advance their reproductive rights and economic opportunity, while sustainably managing their natural resources. We package information about conservation and reproductive health together, so men are more engaged and willing to promote reproductive rights and their partner’s choice to use contraception.
