We manage projects in the Pacific with the aim of advancing the sexual and reproductive well-being of Pacific people.

Focus on the Pacific

For over a decade we have managed a number of projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2010 our focus has been on the Pacific region.

We work alongside local colleagues and partner organisations, relying on their knowledge, expertise and insights to ensure projects best meet local needs.

We provide guidance and support in addressing challenges they may face.

Kiribati – Healthy Families Project

One of our current projects is the Healthy Families Project in Kiribati.

This project is implemented in partnership with the Kiribati Family Health Association and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

The project aims to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, skills and services in South Tarawa, Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Butaritari, Marakei and North Tarawa resulting in a reduction in sexually transmissible infections and unplanned pregnancies. 

It includes:

• training clinical and health promotion staff to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) service delivery
• implementing mobile clinical services, introducing new Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and expanding health promotion activities to improve access to SRHR services and information
• informing and educating Kiribati leaders to help build an enabling environment for the improvement of SRHR
• conducting research to establish a sound evidence base for future policy.

Download the Kiribati Healthy Families Project fact sheet

Vanuatu - Planem gud famili blong yumi project 

This project aims to reduce unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmissible infections among Ni-Vanuatu in North Santo, Torres and Gaua, and South Pentecost. The project is implemented in partnership with the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA) and funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

The project offers an integrated approach to improving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) by:

1. Delivering clinical training programmes to VFHA nurses and Vanuatu Ministry of Health staff from target locations. 
2. Delivering outreach clinics to communities of need. 
3. Developing, implementing and advocating for SRHR strategies by community leaders in target locations. 
4. Delivering SRHR workshops to community leaders from communities of need. 
5. Discussing the projects SRHR report with political and community leaders. 

Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies Programme

This three-year programme, led by IPPF’s Pacific Humanitarian team and funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to improve access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in emergencies for Kiribati, the Cook Islands and Tuvalu. Family Planning is partnering with IPPF, the Kiribati Family Health Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association and the Tuvalu Family Health Association.

The programme is centred around three core components:

1. Creating a policy and funding environment increasingly supportive of SRH in humanitarian settings;
2. Increasing national capacity to coordinate implementation of the Minimal Initial Service Package (MISP) in crises. This package is a set of life-saving actions to:

• Coordinate implementation
• Prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence
• Reduce transmission of HIV and other STIs
• Prevent maternal and infant mortality
• Prevent unintended pregnancies
• Plan for a return to comprehensive SRH health services integrated into primary health care as soon as the situation stabilises

3. Implementing the MISP in a timely manner in crises.

See here for an article on the inception meeting and initial MISP training in early 2019.