Cervical cancer, largely preventable, is one of the main causes of cancer death in women. In 2012, 528,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed and 266,000 women died of the disease, nearly 90 per cent of them in low to middle income countries. Deaths due to cervical cancer are projected to rise by almost 25 per cent over the next 10 years.1 Most women die of the disease when they are still in the workplace and caring for their families, at a high cost to society and to the economy. Cervical cancer prevention encompasses a wide range of interventions, which provide IPPF Member Associations with multiple opportunities within the continuum of care to decrease mortality and morbidity from the disease.

Key facts and figures highlighting IPPF's achievements in 2015.            

When IPPF refocused efforts with the three Changes Goals – Unite, Deliver and Perform – an ambitious commitment was made to double the number of sexual and reproductive health services provided between 2010 and 2015. We are proud to announce that 175.3 million services were provided in 2015, only 1 per cent below the goal of 176.4 million. This is a remarkable achievement and a result of Member Associations’ unwavering efforts and commitment. More than eight in ten clients who received services from IPPF were poor and vulnerable, while 44 per cent of our services went to young people. In 2015, Member Associations and collaborative partners in 48 countries contributed to 82 legal and policy changes that support or defend sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the regional and global levels, IPPF’s advocacy contributed to 22 policy changes. The highlight of our advocacy achievements was the inclusion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. IPPF continued to invest in learning, business processes and information management systems to drive performance and value for money. We are increasingly using data to guide decision making and to ensure accountability to our clients, donors and partners.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a framework of 17 goals and 169 targets across social, economic and environmental areas of sustainable development, which United Nations (UN) Member States have committed to making a reality over the next 15 years. The SDGs are to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expire at the end of 2015, but are much broader in their scope. Unlike the MDGs, which were focussed on social issues, the SDGs set out targets across all three dimensions – social, economic and environmental – of sustainable development. Furthermore, while the MDGs were targeted at developing countries, the SDGs are applicable to all countries. The SDGs form part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which UN Member States adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. The adoption of the Agenda is the culmination of a lengthy process of intergovernmental negotiations and consultations that lasted nearly three years. The outcome document of the process, ‘Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, consists of a short preamble, a declaration (outlining the vision and principles underlying the Agenda), the SDGs and accompanying targets, as well as sections on the means of implementation and the follow-up and review of the Agenda. The 2030 Agenda is an important political consensus document declaring UN Member States’ intent to work collectively towards achieving people-centred sustainable development over the next 15 years. The 2030 Agenda can be expected to affect the policy and funding priorities of both implementing governments and donors during this time, leading to a channelling of global development funding to the areas reflected in the goals and targets and influencing national development strategies and programming. This will present important opportunities for both advocates and service providers of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  

Key facts and figures highlighting IPPF's achievements in 2014.

2014 was our third year implementing IPPF’s three Change Goals – Unite, Deliver and Perform. We have monitored the trajectory of our growth in performance to date, and are already seeing remarkable success in all three areas, as presented in our Annual Performance Report 2014-2015.   Member Associations and collaborative partners in 55 countries contributed to 81 changes in policy or legislation that support or defend sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the regional and global levels, IPPF’s advocacy contributed to 18 changes, of which 12 were advances in safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 development framework. With the delivery of 149.3 million services in 2014, we are on track to achieve our ambitious target of doubling the number of sexual and reproductive health services provided between 2010 and 2015.   Over eight in ten clients who accessed services were poor and vulnerable, while almost half of our services went to young people. IPPF’s achievements in 2014 contribute to a strong performance culture where decisions are based on data, organizational learning happens at all levels, technical support is provided to increase effectiveness, and investments are made to support communities most in need.