By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Global leaders, researchers, and advocates have gathered in Bogotá for the Seventh International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025), the world’s largest meeting on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The four-day event, which runs from November 3–6, 2025, marks the first time the global summit is being held in Latin America.
The conference, themed “Equity Through Action: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All,” brings together more than 800 organisations from 120 countries, including ministers, parliamentarians, researchers, and health experts, to deliberate on ways to strengthen access to family planning and overcome funding challenges.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), over 250 million women around the world still lack access to modern contraception, while the global reproductive health sector faces a US$1.5 billion funding gap by 2030. The shortfall threatens to reverse years of progress made in reducing maternal mortality and expanding access to family planning services.
“Contraception saves lives. It’s the first line of defence against maternal mortality. We cannot afford complacency, women and girls are counting on us,” said Ms. Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA.
With more than 2,000 scientific presentations, ICFP 2025 is showcasing evidence-based solutions and innovations driving access to reproductive health care. Studies from countries such as Kenya, Malawi, and Ethiopia highlight how digital health tools, AI platforms, and drone technology are improving contraceptive supply chains and reaching underserved populations.
Organised by the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in partnership with the Government of Colombia, Profamilia, and Fundación Valle del Lili, the conference is also addressing the economic and political barriers affecting women’s rights to make informed health decisions.
Dr. Philip Anglewicz, Director of the William H. Gates Sr. Institute, said Bogotá would serve as a space where science and policy align to protect reproductive rights and rebuild global momentum.
For Nigeria, where family planning remains a crucial strategy for improving maternal and child health, the outcomes of the Bogotá conference could shape new policies aimed at increasing domestic investment and reducing dependence on foreign aid for reproductive health programmes.
As the world races toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, ICFP 2025 aims to turn data into decisive action, ensuring that every woman and girl, regardless of location, has the right to plan her family and her future.
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