Zambia, Zimbabwe, and DRC Increase Family Planning Funding Amid Global Aid Cuts
Zambia, Zimbabwe, and DRC Increase Family Planning Funding Amid Global Aid Cuts
————————————————
Several African governments are stepping up domestic funding for family planning programs as cuts in international aid threaten decades of reproductive health progress, an article by The Guardian reported. Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have all announced increased budgets for contraceptives and related services, signaling a shift toward self-reliance in reproductive health.
According to FP2030, over 80% of donor funding for family planning has historically come from countries now reducing aid, with the United States contributing 41% of total support between 2020 and 2024. The reduction has forced closures of maternal and reproductive health services in many low- and middle-income countries, leaving millions of women without access to contraception. The Guttmacher Institute estimates 78 million women and girls in these countries currently lack the contraception they need, requiring $14 billion to meet demand.
Zambia plans to raise its family planning budget from $4.5 million in 2025 to $7.5 million in 2026. Health Minister Elijah Julaki Muchima highlighted the program’s success in reducing maternal mortality from 252 per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 187 per 100,000 in 2024, and noted the recruitment of 20,000 new healthcare workers, primarily midwives.
Zimbabwe will allocate an additional $2.25 million annually for contraceptives in 2026 and 2027 and plans to raise further funds through taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and a levy on data and airtime. The DRC will invest $5 million annually for contraceptives over the next four years, addressing high unmet needs among young people amid conflict and displacement.
UNFPA supports these efforts by matching government investments with $2 worth of supplies for every $1 contributed. UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita described the moves as a “powerful shift from dependency to ownership,” emphasizing that sustainable domestic financing is critical to safeguarding reproductive health gains in Africa.
