FIGO Programmes: Delivering impact in low-resourced settings
As we come to the end of our 70th anniversary year, we look back at the positive impact FIGO Programmes has had, and continue to have, in low- and middle-income countries.
FIGO began delivering international health projects in 2004, and we have witnessed steady growth in the number and scale of projects since then. Over the past two decades, FIGO has successfully executed more than 25 projects across more than 50 countries covering key priority clinical areas.
Preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage since 2004
The very first project of FIGO launched was part of a consortium evaluating different training models to improve clinical practice on active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL). Since then, FIGO has consistently worked with our member societies on PPH projects ranging from research on other in-service training models (HMS-BAB), to dissemination of evidence on misoprostol for PPH, to providing technical support, identifying leaders, and accelerating PPH control efforts (IAP project) – just to name a few. More recently, we were delighted to announce that our Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Haemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PPHI) expanded operations from four to six countries with newly joined teams in Nigeria and Zambia.
Reducing deaths from unsafe abortion since 2007
Starting with a presidential initiative from Dr Dorothy Shaw, FIGO initiated a large project to work with over 40 member societies from all regions to address maternal mortality by preventing unsafe abortion. The massive project brought together Ministries of Heath, professional societies and partners to design and implement effective health system strategies. Improving access to safe abortion has remained a critical are of work throughout the years. Our Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, launched in 2019, is currently focusing efforts on supporting three and connecting with 20 Francophone societies in Africa and we will continue to collaborate with members societies across the world to push for universal access to sexual reproductive health and rights.
Fistula Surgeons Training Initiative since 2012
The Fistula Surgery Training Initiative has been building the capacities of trainee fistula surgeons – ‘FIGO Fellows’ – and multidisciplinary teams to provide treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula in some of the world’s most underserved communities for many years. Their efforts to raising awareness of this devastating childbirth injury, lead on clinical excellence and provide much needed equipment have had real impact in the communities they work in. To date 90 surgeons from 27 affected countries have participated in this initiative.
Past FIGO projects have covered other clinical areas including pre-eclampsia, maternal nutrition, gestational diabetes, family planning, cervical cancer and work focusing on adolescents. Every one of our projects is critical to achieve FIGO’s mission, they all demonstrate the value of working hand in hand with member societies and OBGYN champions to deliver impact.
“FIGO has a proven track record of delivering multi-year, multi-country projects which utilise the role of national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology and the unique infrastructure and offerings of our global federation. We are proud of our achievements and keen to grow our programmatic offerings further, enabling more member societies to do impactful work.” — Frances Longley, FIGO CEO
Direction of travel: Scaling impact to drive systemic change
FIGO is cognisant of and responsive to changes in the landscape of international development. As part of the critical localisation agenda, we seek to support national societies to grow, strengthen and become powerful and influential actors. We strive to reduce power imbalances and be responsive to needs of our members. We facilitate south-south learning and support mechanisms to ensure long-lasting benefits of sharing valuable knowledge and insights.
“With numerous LMICs likely to fall far short of reaching global SDGs, it is imperative that FIGO focuses work with member societies, striving to bring improvements. This work also speaks to one of FIGO’s core commitment of strengthening the capacity of national member societies. It is not an understatement to say that FIGO Programmes are critical, that our unique position and way of working can bring change to our members and their communities.” — Prof Kihara Anne Beatrice, FIGO President
At FIGO, we firmly believe that collaboration is crucial to bring about real change. We are incredibly grateful to all donors that have supported FIGO projects over the last two decades - including Gates Foundation, a large anonymous donor, Jhpiego and UNITAID - and partners such as Engenderhealth, UNFPA, Ipas, IPPF, MSI and PMNCH. We are also immensely proud of our close relationship with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), whom we have co-partnered on some projects with, and our close collaboration with the World Health Organisation on joint areas of focus.
Under the umbrella of FIGO Programmes, our current portfolio of active projects is set to grow in the future. We stand together with our members, partners, supporters and allies in our unwavering resolve to reduce disparities in healthcare and collaborate to ensure women girls can access quality health services wherever they live.