Skip to content
Project

Beyond Bias

Funder

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Overview
2016–2022

In this project, we addressed the different types of provider biases and behaviors that translate—advertently or inadvertently—into barriers for youth who want access to contraceptive counseling and services. We used an innovative four-phase approach to gather insights, generate and test solutions, and support adaptation and scale up. Read the project Research Spotlight. Contact: beyondbias@pathfinder.org.

Project Activities


  • Deepened our understanding of provider bias and the way it’s shaped and enacted in each country and within public and private sector facilities.
  • Developed, tested, and refined solutions to address provider bias using human-centered design.
  • Used existing contraceptive service delivery platforms to implement and evaluate solutions.
  • Disseminated our learning through peer-reviewed journal articles, gray literature, and dissemination meetings that include guidance on adaptation and scalability.
  • Drew on the multidisciplinary expertise of our partners—Camber Collective, YLabs, The Center for Effective Global Action’s Behavioral Economics in Reproductive Health Initiative, Aga Khan Health Services Tanzania, and Greenstar Social Marketing—so they give input and build capacity in phases of implementation most relevant to their expertise.
Countries Involved
Focus Areas
  • Adolescents & Youth
  • Contraception & Family Planning
Featured Stories & Perspectives

#16Days: A Climate-Resilient World is a Safer World

#16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive—and preventable—human rights violations…

Read The Story
Climate Champion Chandi - #16Days Feature
Featured Stories & Perspectives

From Training to Transformation: How Kano’s Health Workforce Mentorship Program is Saving Lives 

Health workforce shortages plague Kano state’s health system in Nigeria, where for every 10,000 people, there are only 3 health workers available to provide care. This critical workforce…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the HIV and AIDS Response: Why Community Leadership Still Matters

This World AIDS Day arrives with a powerful symbol of scientific progress: lenacapavir, the long-acting injectable PrEP that can prevent…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Climate Champions: How Women in Pakistan and Bangladesh are Leading the Fight for Resilience

Climate change is ravaging communities across Pakistan and Bangladesh. From devastating floods and violent cyclones to prolonged droughts and lethal…

Read The Story
Woman holding seeds
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Mobile Health Teams Ease Suffering for Women in Rural Niger

Safia, in her late thirties, has had eight pregnancies. Four of her children made it to their first birthdays, while…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Contraception is…Equity, Dignity, Justice for Women

At Pathfinder, we stand with government and partners in advancing access to voluntary contraception, working together to build healthier families,…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Investing in Women: Côte d’Ivoire’s Commitment to Free Family Planning

Alongside making contraceptive services accessible to women at health clinics, Pathfinder supports efforts across communities in Côte d’Ivoire to increase…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

DSSR Ado-Jeunes: 10 Years of Youth-Centered, Inclusive SRHR Programming in DRC

Jump to English translation. On est équipés pour relever le défi : Ce que nous ont appris dans les dix…

Read The Story
DSSR Ado-Jeunes
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Our Work Continues: The Global Impact of USAID Funding Cuts

PROSANI: Innovation and Impact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | PROSANI’s Impact | Breaking Barriers to Gender Equality…

Read The Story
Featured Stories & Perspectives

5 Communities in Bangladesh Mobilize to Beat Plastic Pollution

Last month, in celebration of World Environment Day, the Advancing the Leadership of Women and Girls Towards Better Health and…

Read The Story
Volunteers clean plastic pollution for World Environment Day
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Investing in Resilience: Strengthening Health Systems Against Climate Emergencies

Climate Champions in Pakistan’s Sindh province provide a vital link between communities and essential health care. Imagine a doctor performing…

Read The Story
Climate champions in Pakistan
Featured Stories & Perspectives

Inside Kano State’s Bold Effort to Prevent Cervical Cancer

“This topic touches me deeply, as I lost my wife to cervical cancer. That painful experience has shown me how…

Read The Story
Workshop on preventing cervical cancer in Kano State, Nigeria.

Featured Publications & Resources

The Latest

Climate Champion Chandi - #16Days Feature

#16Days: A Climate-Resilient World is a Safer World

#16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive—and preventable—human rights violations…

Read More

From Training to Transformation: How Kano’s Health Workforce Mentorship Program is Saving Lives 

Health workforce shortages plague Kano state’s health system in Nigeria, where for every 10,000 people, there are only 3 health workers available to provide care. This critical workforce…

Read More

Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the HIV and AIDS Response: Why Community Leadership Still Matters

This World AIDS Day arrives with a powerful symbol of scientific progress: lenacapavir, the long-acting injectable PrEP that can prevent…

Read More
Woman holding seeds

Climate Champions: How Women in Pakistan and Bangladesh are Leading the Fight for Resilience

Climate change is ravaging communities across Pakistan and Bangladesh. From devastating floods and violent cyclones to prolonged droughts and lethal…

Read More

Mobile Health Teams Ease Suffering for Women in Rural Niger

Safia, in her late thirties, has had eight pregnancies. Four of her children made it to their first birthdays, while…

Read More

Contraception is…Equity, Dignity, Justice for Women

At Pathfinder, we stand with government and partners in advancing access to voluntary contraception, working together to build healthier families,…

Read More

Investing in Women: Côte d’Ivoire’s Commitment to Free Family Planning

Alongside making contraceptive services accessible to women at health clinics, Pathfinder supports efforts across communities in Côte d’Ivoire to increase…

Read More
DSSR Ado-Jeunes

DSSR Ado-Jeunes: 10 Years of Youth-Centered, Inclusive SRHR Programming in DRC

Jump to English translation. On est équipés pour relever le défi : Ce que nous ont appris dans les dix…

Read More

Our Work Continues: The Global Impact of USAID Funding Cuts

PROSANI: Innovation and Impact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | PROSANI’s Impact | Breaking Barriers to Gender Equality…

Read More
Volunteers clean plastic pollution for World Environment Day

5 Communities in Bangladesh Mobilize to Beat Plastic Pollution

Last month, in celebration of World Environment Day, the Advancing the Leadership of Women and Girls Towards Better Health and…

Read More
Climate champions in Pakistan

Investing in Resilience: Strengthening Health Systems Against Climate Emergencies

Climate Champions in Pakistan’s Sindh province provide a vital link between communities and essential health care. Imagine a doctor performing…

Read More
Workshop on preventing cervical cancer in Kano State, Nigeria.

Inside Kano State’s Bold Effort to Prevent Cervical Cancer

“This topic touches me deeply, as I lost my wife to cervical cancer. That painful experience has shown me how…

Read More
Our Project Team

Tabinda Sarosh

President and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph Komwihangiro

Regional Portfolio Director, East and Southern Africa