SPRINT: Sexual and reproductive health in crisis and post-crisis situations

The SPRINT Initiative delivers one of the most overlooked but life-saving forms of humanitarian assistance: access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services during emergencies. When disaster or conflict strikes, SPRINT ensures that the reproductive health needs of women, girls, and marginalised groups are not forgotten.

Since 2007, the SPRINT programme has supported the provision of lifesaving SRH services in emergencies by IPPF’s Member Associations (MAs) across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Drawing on IPPF’s existing local networks and partnerships at the country level, SPRINT covers all stages of the humanitarian programme cycle – from preparedness and response to recovery and post-crisis – while also contributing to long-term system strengthening through mitigation strategies.

In 2024, SPRINT IV enabled IPPF MAs to provide essential, life-saving SRH services in crisis situations in Sudan, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Vanuatu.

Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), SPRINT builds the capacity of local and national actors to deliver the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health in emergencies. These life-saving services include support for safe childbirth, contraception, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and clinical care for survivors of sexual violence.

Since its launch, SPRINT has responded to 128 humanitarian crises across 99 countries, reaching over 2.5 million people with essential services. In each priority country, IPPF works through its local Member Associations to lead and coordinate the SRH response. These partnerships help strengthen national systems, build local capacity, and ensure that services are timely, accessible, and rights-based.

Australia’s location in the Indo-Pacific gives DFAT a unique regional perspective on humanitarian action. In addition to supporting direct response, Australia is committed to building the capacity of governments and civil society to lead their own crisis response. DFAT also works in collaboration with other donors, the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and NGOs to strengthen preparedness and humanitarian coordination.

You can read more about IPPF Humanitarian’s work here.