The US based reproductive rights organisation Ipas has secured a substantial grant from The Audacious Project to expand global access to abortion and contraception.

While Ipas is still negotiating the exact amount, it is expected to be close to its ask of $100 million. 

“Every year, 35 million people end pregnancies using unsafe methods, amounting to one unsafe abortion every second of every day, with life-altering and often fatal consequences for women, girls, and their families,” said Ipas in a statement on Tuesday.

“Our vision is to prevent 16.3 million unsafe abortions and 22.6 million unintended pregnancies and to avert 39,000 maternal deaths by 2032, reducing unsafe abortion by 30% in 10 high-need countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America by 2040.” 

But achieving this vision requires substantial resources, Ipas director in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Dr Jean-Claude Mulunda, told Health Policy Watch.

“A total investment of $350 million is required to reduce unsafe abortion by 30% across 10 countries, including six in sub-Saharan Africa region,” said Mulunda.

“Ipas requested $100 million through Audacious. While an initial commitment has been secured, discussions with several donors are still underway, and we expect to have a clear picture soon of the exact level of funding that will be made available.”

Priority countries

The organisation will focus on Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, as well as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Mexico. 

Mulunga acknowledged that several of these countries have restrictions on access to abortion.

Some countries allow abortion when a woman’s life is in danger, but healthcare providers are unsure of when and how they can help, he added.

“Ipas works with partners, with government, with the health system, to clarify through guidance so it’s easy for health providers to identify when they can provide those services,” he explained.

“The abortion ecosystem needs to shift, but we don’t wait for everything to change. We try to leverage every single positive step to transform it as quickly as possible into tangible services for women, because that is the only way for us to protect women’s lives.”

Focus activities

Ipas will focus on three activities in Africa. 

“The first involves strengthening the health system to deliver high quality of abortion care to women, while looking at diversifying pathways to care,” said Mulunga.

This includes not only improving facility-level care, but also the possibility to train pharmacists to provide information and the abortion pill to women who can self- manage their abortion .

“The second level will be around advancing laws, policies and political will to support sexual reproductive health and rights, including the right for safe abortion,” Mulunga added.

The third focus will be on “reducing stigma, strengthening referral pathways, and building a movement that will support the advocacy,” he said.

This will involve partnering with civil society organisations to enable them to support abortion advocacy, information on where women can get pills and services, and social support.

“We are honoured to be part of this inspiring Audacious Project 2025 cohort,” said Ipas CEO Anu Kumar.

“We know access to abortion and contraception leads to immense benefits to individuals, families, communities, and even countries. We want every woman and girl, no matter where they live, to have healthy, prosperous lives.”

Audacious is a collaborative donor platform that includes ELMA Philanthropies, MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, and the Skoll Foundation.

Image Credits: Center for Reproductive Rights.