Grants From Gates And Packard Foundation Expand International Family Planning Leadership Program

The International Family Planning Leadership Program (IFPLP) is expanding its next training session to include 15 additional fellows thanks to grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Robert Minnis, Director of the International Health Programs (IHP) announced today.

The IFPLP's goal is to build an influential cadre of family planning leaders, improve their effectiveness and provide them with skills and knowledge that will sustain them as they rise to higher levels of responsibility in their countries. In September 20 fellows from countries, such as Ethiopia, Pakistan, Philippines and Nigeria, will begin the intensive leadership training.

"The support of these two Foundations has allowed us to very quickly add these additions to our program, expanding both our fellow numbers and the number of countries we will be able to reach," Minnis said. "Equipping members of the local communities has been an effective way to reach people with news of family planning. How exciting that we can now reach even more people with this imperative information."

The Public Health Institute, a nonprofit organization with extensive experience in supporting family planning and population programs will implement this program through the unit in Santa Cruz, California. Collaborating partners are School of Public Health, University of California, Berkley; Center for Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco; Center for Health Leadership, Public Health Institute, Berkley.