Creating Communities for Policy Change

Research has shown that the rise and fall of priority global health issues and approaches is influenced by policy communities—i.e., networks of individuals (e.g., researchers, advocates, policymakers, and technical officials) and organizations (including governments, nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, private foundations, and donor agencies) that share a concern for a particular issue. Strong policy communities that can develop convincing ideas backed by reliable evidence are better able to attract attention and resources to their issue.

Several organizations have worked to create PHE policy communities that disseminate information about PHE issues and share experiences from integrated programs that address these problems. PHE policy communities seek to focus greater attention on PHE issues and integrated programs by working collectively and in coordination, and by communicating through multiple channels. PHE policy communities target key individuals, institutions and members of civil society who can influence policy decisions that support integrated programming (including legislative action, allocation changes, or institutional policies).

Improving Access to Family Planning Can Promote Food Security in a Changing Climate

2012 | MEASURE Evaluation PRH | 4

A growing body of evidence indicates that climate change is decreasing the productivity of many crops around the world, thus exacerbating existing food security challenges. Ensuring sufficient food for a growing world population in the context of climate change will require innovative technologies and strategies to boost agricultural yields and improve access to nutritious foods for the world’s poorest people.

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A call for a family planning surge

2012 | International Centre for Reproductive Health | 5

In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, laid out in its Programme of Action an impressive and ambitious set of goals for improving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) all over the world, by the target date of 2015 (International Conference on Population and Development 1994). One of these goals was the provision of universal access to a full range of safe and reliable family -planning methods.

2011 | Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health | 8

This policy brief explores the complex relationship between population dynamics and economic development in developing countries. When populations transition from high mortality and fertility rates to longer life expectancies and smaller family size, this is known as the demographic dividend. The brief expains how, during this transition phase, possible economic benefits are significant. Finally, the authors make recommendations for policy changes to increase investments in family planning and reproductive health, girls' education and economic development for youth.

2011 | Global Leaders Council on Reproductive Health | 8

This policy brief looks at the relationships between increasing world population and the ever-growing need for food and water resources and ecosystem health in the context of climate change. In order to acheive sustainable development and meet human needs today and tomorrow, the brief promotes universal access to family plannng and reproductive health services and women's empowerment initiatives.

2011 | The BALANCED Project | pp. 36

Practice_Harvest_Exchange_PHE_COP_508.pdf

This document explains efforts made the Building Actors and Leaders for Advancing Community Excellence in Development (BALANCED) five-year Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) technical leadership project in mapping out the existing PHE network and developing the comprehensive ‘PHE Toolkit.’ The PHE network consists of the global network of practice including practitioners, leaders and researchers that address the need for the PHE approach. The ‘PHE Toolkit’ is the online repository of selected documents authored by individuals in this network.

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