PRB works around the world to transform data and research on family planning, reproductive health care, HIV/AIDS, and other related issues into useful information and shares it with policymakers, journalists, and advocates. Our reproductive health and fertility work includes:
Making Information Accessible
Middle East and North Africa Program
Despite a solid body of research on population and reproductive health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), PRB found that this research was largely ignored because it was highly technical and lacked cultural sensitivity. With funding from the Ford Foundation office in Cairo, PRB collaborated with local organizations in the MENA region to remedy the problem by creating and widely distributing six policy briefs on key reproductive health issues.
With more than 20,000 copies of the English- and Arabic-language briefs in circulation, they are now an integral part of curriculums in several universities in the region. Development workers and health officials rely on the briefs for objective information that is not available elsewhere. "They focus on the most important challenges in MENA in very simple language, which encourages policymakers to read them," noted a senior official in Syria's Ministry of Health.
Focusing International Attention
Efforts to Eradicate Female Genital Cutting
In 2003, Stella Obasanjo, First Lady of Nigeria, joined with other African First Ladies to create an International Day of Zero Tolerance for female genital cutting. To mark the first anniversary of Zero Tolerance Day in 2004, PRB led a steering committee to plan a symposium, media briefing, and Capitol Hill briefing in Washington, D.C.
The events raised awareness about the harmful practice and refocused attention on promising programs that are reducing incidences of cutting. More than 200 symposium participants learned about the latest research and best practices while the collegial format of the symposium helped to build bridges among organizations working on the front lines of this issue. The well-attended Hill briefing generated sustained interest from members of Congress in what they could do to aid efforts to end female genital cutting.