Family planning can transform the lives of women, families, and nations.
Access to voluntary family planning information and services enables people and their families to meet their needs while contributing to sustainable development. Voluntary family planning can help reduce fertility and contribute to the transition of a country’s population from high to low birth and death rates. With fewer young people relative to the population of working-age adults, and with successful implementation of sound social and economic policies over the long term, countries can be propelled to higher levels of development through a demographic dividend. This transition in a country’s age structure is associated with an increased likelihood that a country will realize substantial benefits in economic growth, child survival, educational attainment, and political stability.
PRB uses novel approaches to analyzing and communicating population and reproductive health data to propel decisionmakers to act. We communicate complex concepts such as the demographic dividend in ways that are technically accurate yet easily understood by policymakers. We train journalists and advocates to understand family planning and population data and to use it appropriately. Finally, we create the space necessary to bring together researchers, practitioners, advocates, and policymakers to advance policies that expand access to voluntary family planning to all.
Several projects in PRB’s International Programs address issues related to family planning and reproductive health.