By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
A new global report by FP2030 has raised alarm that years of progress in family planning could be reversed as international aid for reproductive health faces deep funding cuts—an outcome that could also impact access to contraception and maternal health services in Nigeria.
According to the report, 394 million women of reproductive age were using modern family planning methods as of July 2025, representing an increase of 101 million since 2012. The progress was largely achieved through international support and national policies that promoted women’s access to contraception.
However, FP2030, in collaboration with KFF, Track20, and MSI Reproductive Choices, warned that more than 80 percent of global family planning aid comes from donor countries now reducing their funding commitments. The United States, which had contributed 41 percent of total annual funding between 2020 and 2024, has virtually ended its family planning support.
Impact Could Reach Nigeria and other African Countries
Experts say the funding cuts could trigger shortages in contraceptive supplies and disrupt ongoing programmes across Africa, including Nigeria.
In a statement, FP2030’s North, West and Central Africa Managing Director, Alain Damiba, said some countries were already reporting contraceptive stockouts and cancelled shipments.
“In Ghana, shipments have been cancelled, and there are no confirmed supplies for 2026,” he said. “This could soon become a reality in neighbouring countries if funding gaps persist.”
Public health experts in Nigeria have long warned that the country’s high dependence on donor-funded health programmes leaves it vulnerable to such global financial shocks. With an estimated 19 percent of Nigerian women currently using modern contraceptives, analysts fear the progress made through initiatives like Marie Stopes Nigeria and NPHCDA’s family planning programmes could slow down without sustained financing.
Programmes and Data Collection at Risk
FP2030’s Asia-Pacific Managing Director, Sumita Bannerjee, said funding cuts have already led to layoffs in key health programmes, including adolescent health, contraceptive counselling, and urban health outreach.
Similarly, FP2030’s Senior Director for Data and Measurement, Jason Bremner, warned that funding cuts threaten critical data systems like the Demographic and Health Surveys, which help governments plan and monitor health interventions. “Without data, effective decision-making becomes impossible,” he said.
Call for Home-Grown Solutions
FP2030 Executive Director, Samukeliso Dube, urged African governments, including Nigeria, to step up domestic investment in family planning.
“Funding cuts have exposed the fragility of donor-dependent health systems,” she said. “Countries must take ownership through sustainable domestic financing and country-led strategies to protect the progress already made.”
Nigeria’s health advocates are now calling for stronger government commitment to the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) partnership goals, including increased budgetary allocation, improved data tracking, and reliable supply chains for contraceptive commodities.
The report concludes that while the world has made commendable strides in expanding access to modern family planning, millions of women could lose access to essential services if urgent funding solutions are not found.
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