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28 April 2026, Narrm (Melbourne) - Guttmacher has today released its latest report '‘Just the Numbers Australia 2026’’, providing vital analysis on the impact of Australia’s foreign aid contributions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programming in the Asia and Pacific Region. Australia has established itself as an incredibly important partner in advancing SRHR, particularly across Asia and the Pacific region, where it directs nearly all of its bilateral family planning support. SRHR accounted for approximately 2.8% of Australia’s official development assistance in 2023.Australia contributed an estimated AUD $49.2 million in 2024 for family planning. This investment enabled roughly 2.8 million women and couples globally to access modern contraception, leading to 830,000 unintended pregnancies averted. Yet significant gaps remain in the region, with 27.7 million women estimated to have an unmet demand for modern contraception. The research found that even modest investments at the country level would have a profound impact. For example, an additional AUD $1 million per year for the Philippines would serve an extra 56,000 contraceptive users, reducing unmet demand by 5%. Elizabeth Sully, Director of International Research at the Guttmacher Institute highlighted: “Australia's foreign investments in family planning are delivering measurable, life-saving results, but with global sexual and reproductive health financing in crisis, the stakes have never been higher. Australia has a real opportunity to deepen its leadership on gender equality and reproductive choice--and the data shows exactly what sustained investment can achieve: preventing unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths. These aren't abstract numbers. They are real people who depend on these services.”Maria Antoineta Alcade, IPPF’s Director General, reflected: “We know that contraceptive services provide a significant return on investment - but most importantly, it's what women want and ask for. The question is not whether we can afford to invest in family planning - it’s whether we can afford not to. Our responsibility, as global leaders and funders, is to listen, and to act on what women need to prosper and thrive. These investments are not abstract, they prevent unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal deaths, and give women the ability to have control over their own futures.”ENDS For further information or to arrange media interviews with our spokespeople from IPPF or Guttmacher, please contact Nerida Williams on newilliams@ippf.org or +66 62868 3089 (WhatsApp). NotesTo download the full report, please visit this link: https://www.guttmacher.org/2026/04/just-numbers-australia-global-srhr-investment-impact-2024 Australia is an established development partner in SRHR, contributing a portion of its official development assistance to expand access to essential services across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These investments have delivered measurable, life-saving results.In 2024, Australia’s family planning funding—estimated at AUD$49.2 million—supported access to modern contraception for 2.8 million women and couples globally, resulting in:830,000 unintended pregnancies averted303,000 unsafe abortions avoided259,000 unplanned births preventedApproximately 588 maternal deaths prevented

16th April 2026 - A new project ensuring access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for women and adolescents has been launched in Ukraine. Funded by the Government of Japan, and implemented by IPPF Member Association, Women Health and Family Planning (WHFP), the project will support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in the Mykolaiv region of the country.  Ongoing conflict in Ukraine means nearly 13 million people now have acute humanitarian needs, and 3.8 million are internally displaced. Escalations in April 2025 resulted in a new wave of IDPs from frontline districts to regions such as Mykolaiv, creating additional pressures on an already stretched healthcare system. 68 healthcare facilities in the region have been damaged since February 2022, and there has been a significant reduction in medical personnel.  More than half of IDPs live in rural areas, where their only option is to seek medical care in community healthcare facilitiesThis project aims to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health services provided by these primary healthcare facilities, ensuring women and adolescents, and particularly IDPs, can access quality care. The work will also raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights among women and young people in the region and provide information on how to access services. Key activities and expected outcomes include:Supporting three primary healthcare facilities in the Mykolaiv region to provide quality sexual and reproductive health services, such as gynecological examinations, non-urgent pregnancy care, HIV prevention, contraception, sexual and reproductive health counselling and referrals.  Equipping these healthcare facilities with essential tools and medication, such as dopplers for fetal heart monitoring, contraceptives, pharmaceutical refrigerators, and gynecological examination sets.  Training 30 primary healthcare level specialists, such as family doctors and midwives, in sexual and reproductive health services such as family planning, HIV prevention, patient examinations, and caring for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.  Using social media channels, public platforms and regional media to reach at least 10,000 women and adolescents with information on sexual and reproductive health, and how to access support.  Dr. Galyna Maystruk, Executive Director of Woman Health and Family Planning said: “We see how the destruction of medical infrastructure and the shortage of personnel are severely limiting access to essential services that are vital for women. This initiative is a significant contribution to restoring and strengthening sexual and reproductive health security in one of the most important regions of Ukraine in all respects. We are focusing our efforts on the Mykolaiv region, since the needs are particularly acute. Our long-term humanitarian experience shows that special attention to the essential needs of the population makes these people safer - especially vulnerable groups. Thanks to the targeted and practical support of Japan, together with our partners, we are building a sustainable system that supports the different needs of the population.”  Valerie Dourdin, IPPF Global Humanitarian Director, added “In crisis situations, ensuring access to safe care is not optional - it is life saving. Thanks to the support of the Government of Japan, this project strengthens healthcare facilities so that people displaced by conflict can access safe, quality sexual and reproductive health services.”   --About WHFPFor 20 years WHFP has been consistently and actively working in the field of reproductive health, strengthening and protecting the reproductive rights of people in Ukraine.Its main spheres of activity include: independent expertise and strategic development relating to national legislation and development of the legal framework in the field of reproductive health and family planning; education programs on sexuality education and healthy lifestyles; training for medical professionals; public awareness campaigns on cancer prevention among women; and rehabilitation programs for breast cancer survivors.About IPPF EN regionIPPF European Network is one of the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s six regional networks. IPPF EN works in over 40 countries across Europe and Central Asia to empower everyone, especially the most socially excluded, to live with dignity and to have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.