We were set up to fund abortion because other donors wouldn’t.

18 years ago, the idea for a global fund focused on abortion was created by several governments supportive of safe access. SAAF’s founding came from a recognition of the huge global need for safe abortion care, and frustration at the lack of existing funding to support groups brave enough to work on this issue.

At that time, with George W Bush as President of the U.S, the ‘Global Gag Rule’ was firmly in place. This policy denies the provision of U.S aid for any foreign organisations which provide or refer to abortion services, advocate for the legalisation of abortion, and even share information about safe abortion. First adopted by Ronald Reagan in 1985, the Global Gag Rule has been reinstated by every Republican President who enters office. It was even expanded by Donald Trump in 2017.

This high-level application of abortion stigma by the richest country in the world inevitably has a hugely negative impact on global health outcomes – and not just those focused on reproductive health. Just recently, PEPFAR, the hugely impactful U.S fund for HIV and AIDS has been threatened by conservatives and anti-choice organisations claiming that it could be used to 'promote abortion’.

Beyond the U.S government, other major donors may not have been as direct about their refusal to fund abortion, but it has clearly not been a priority, or is often deemed too ‘sensitive’ alongside less controversial areas of global health. Although we’re pleased to see that some governments and donors (including of course our own!) do see the need for funding which supports abortion, the stigma which exceptionalises abortion is still very much present.

The organisations we provide funding to set their own goals.

We have some restrictions as to who can receive our funding. Organisations must be based in low- and middle-income countries and have a budget under $1.5m at the time they apply. We happily fund and support small grassroots organisations who may never have worked on abortion, or even received a grant before.

We don’t specify which areas of work each organisation must undertake or set targets. Activities and signs of success are determined by them, based on their own knowledge of their local context. All we ask is that the work is in some way focused on abortion. Be that providing or enabling reproductive health care services, advocating to change harmful laws and policies, or reducing stigma and increasing understanding about safe abortion.

We prioritise organisations which are led by women, and those which demonstrate clear commitment to feminist values and pay attention to intersections with other human rights issues. We’re glad to be able to provide flexible funding, which supports organisations to be able to work sustainably, and to further strengthen a vibrant global movement of abortion rights campaigners.

Abortion activists are an unstoppable movement.

There are still huge problems with access to safe abortion all over the world. Even in countries where abortion is legally 'allowed’ it is often deeply stigmatised and hard to access.

As acknowledged in a recent Amnesty report, those who work to improve access to reproductive rights are themselves under attack. However, these brave advocates continue to show up for the right to a safe and dignified abortion because they see the difference safe abortion makes to people’s lives.

If you watch the news and feel like the world is going backwards on abortion rights, find some solace in the knowledge that the vast majority of changes to global laws have actually been progressive. When supported and connected, people can make a difference.

SAAF is proud to continue to support activists, advocates, and providers of safe abortion to keep up the fight that we all know will lead to a better world. We’ll exist for as long as we need to, reminding donors and decision makers that abortion work is essential, life-saving and world-changing.

Banner credit: SAAF grantee partner Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC), Uganda