Training Reproductive Health Leaders
Strengthening effective leadership—from within communities, to local and national level organizations, and among policymakers—is critical to improving population and reproductive health outcomes around the world. To ensure that reproductive health and population programs are strong and effective, leaders must be equipped to effectively advocate for not only new policies, but the sound implementation of existing policies. Leaders must also be able to work across sectors and ensure strong partnerships exist between government, private and civil society sectors.
Expanding leaders’ ability to work individually, organizationally and collaboratively to affect systemic change was at the core of the LDM program’s work. Our approach to leadership development was based on the premise that while some people are born leaders, anyone can develop leadership competencies which can make them better equipped to address the multitude of challenges facing reproductive health activists. Furthermore, leadership development is not a one-off training, but a continuing journey of growth, self-reflection and relationship building.
Between 2001 and 2011, over 1,300 men and women accessed leadership development opportunities directly through Packard Foundation-funded population leadership programs. The majority of these Leadership Fellows participated in short-term leadership or reproductive health training courses in their own countries or in regional settings. Trainings included courses in reproductive health management, transformational leadership and other technical trainings related to improving reproductive health policies and services.
LDM staff also strategically designed trainings to achieve certain impacts (for example, study tours on Family Planning and Islam) and designed courses that respond to a skill gap we might observe (such as writing and documentation; presentation skills; leadership and policy advocacy). We also developed leadership programs to meet the specific needs of certain groups such as youth or women leaders. Each approach has been important and has collectively contributed to creating networks of highly skilled and reflective leaders for reproductive health and population.
Last Updated: June 2011