Millions of women and girls in some of the world’s poorest countries will have greater access to contraception and maternal healthcare through a newly announced package of UK government support.
- New UK investment aims to prevent 14 million unintended pregnancies and more than 35,000 maternal deaths.
- Access to quality contraceptives and safe abortion products will expand across 54 countries, including conflict-affected regions.
- The funding will also improve access to innovative, life-saving medicines for mothers and newborn babies.
Millions of women and girls living in some of the world’s poorest countries are expected to benefit from a new UK funding initiative designed to strengthen reproductive healthcare and increase their ability to decide whether and when to become pregnant.
The £254 million investment will support voluntary family planning for more than 15 million women annually. By 2028, the programme could help prevent approximately 14 million unintended pregnancies and over 35,000 maternal deaths.
The initiative will improve access to a wide range of family planning products, including condoms, contraceptive pills, implants and coils, helping women make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
It will also increase access to essential medicines and medical technologies for mothers and newborn babies. These include innovative blood-measurement equipment for detecting postpartum haemorrhage earlier and treatments shown to reduce severe bleeding by almost two-thirds.
Kirsty McNeill, Minister for Development, said:
McNeill emphasised that women and girls should be able to make informed decisions about their bodies without coercion, discrimination or violence.
She explained that reproductive choice can influence whether women remain in education, pursue employment opportunities and receive safe maternity care.
According to McNeill, the newly announced funding will help millions of women and girls gain greater independence over their reproductive decisions and future opportunities.
The investment will be delivered through the CHOICES programme, the UK’s largest initiative supporting sexual and reproductive rights. The programme will involve collaboration between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) across more than 50 countries, including regions affected by conflict.
Access to modern contraception remains a significant global challenge. An estimated 259 million women who want to avoid or delay pregnancy are currently not using safe, modern contraceptive methods.
As part of its updated international development approach, the UK will collaborate with national governments to reduce long-term dependence on donor funding and establish sustainable healthcare systems.
Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, said:
Keita welcomed the United Kingdom’s continued partnership and commitment to protecting women’s health and reproductive rights.
She explained that the investment would help expand contraceptive access and improve the availability of essential medicines during pregnancy and childbirth.
Through cooperation between UNFPA and its partners, the programme aims to support healthier pregnancies, improve maternal outcomes and give women and girls greater freedom to make decisions about their futures.
Caitlin Glover, CHAI Vice President of Women’s & Newborn Health said:
Glover highlighted that effective medical products and interventions already exist to prevent many maternal and newborn deaths and unintended pregnancies.
However, she noted that these essential healthcare products often fail to reach the women and girls who need them most.
She welcomed the UK’s commitment and reaffirmed CHAI’s role in helping countries establish reliable, sustainable access to these products through national healthcare systems.
Key Fact
- Maternal deaths have declined by 40% since 2000, although progress remains uneven. Approximately 70% of maternal deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these deaths could be prevented through improved access to quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and essential medicines.
- The CHOICES programme operates across more than 50 countries, including Afghanistan, Chad, the Gambia, Malawi, Sudan and Yemen. It prioritises countries experiencing high maternal mortality rates and low contraceptive use, while also providing emergency assistance to regions facing humanitarian crises.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Read the official UK Government announcement
