Oxfam Novib

The female condom is the only existing female-controlled method that prevents both pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Oxfam Novib, a Dutch international development and humanitarian agency, launched the Universal Access to Female Condoms Joint Programme (UAFC) four years ago to draw global attention to the benefits of expanded availability of the female condom in developing countries. UAFC aims to make female condoms universally accessible, available, and affordable for all. During this first phase, the Programme made enormous progress in making sure that female condoms are on the international political agenda as well as available in several countries through Programme-supported social marketing organizations. Hewlett Foundation support for the second phase of the UAFC Joint Programme will be used for advocacy, communications, and coordination components.

For a project to promote universal access to female condoms The female condom is the only existing female-controlled method that prevents both pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Oxfam Novib, a Dutch international development and humanitarian agency, launched the "Universal Access to Female Condoms" project two years ago to draw global attention to the benefits of expanded availability of the female condom in developing countries. Hewlett Foundation funds would support the costs of the project's secretariat, which oversees three sets of activities to protect women's reproductive health and to combat gender inequality: the development of cheaper female condom products, the launch of large-scale outreach and service delivery programs in two African countries, and intensified national and international advocacy to mobilize new resources and governmental commitment for the female condom. This grant is aligned with Population Program's interest in reducing expanding access to existing but underused reproductive health options, Guideline 1.