Media Contact:
Christina Cherel | Johns Hopkins University | ccherel@jhu.edu

Lilongwe, Malawi - The Family Planning News Network (FPNN) is headed to Lilongwe, Malawi from May 22nd to May 26th, 2024 for the first inaugural FPNN reporting trip. This trip is possible through partnership with the 2025 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), W. H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health (WHGI) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Ntha Foundation based in Lilongwe, to showcase the transformative power of family planning and reproductive health investments across Malawi.

Family Planning News Network (FPNN) is designed to increase local and regional reporting on family planning, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and connected development issues. It provides the platform and an extensive global audience and is designed to support young reporters and established journalists alike who are engaged in localised, regional media advocacy efforts on topics related to reproductive health and family planning.

The 2024 FPNN Reporting Trip will introduce the selected reporters to powerful stories, influential community leaders, and new ways of looking at key research and data that showcase the power of access to quality family planning and reproductive health products and services. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts, community leaders, and innovative projects in and around Malawi’s capital city of Lilongwe

This Exemplars in Global Health article highlights Malawi's success in doubling the rate of modern contraceptive use compared to sub-Saharan Africa, significantly improving women's health and socioeconomic wellbeing. Despite challenges, such as rural distribution and reaching adolescents, Malawi has made various contraceptive choices available nationwide, including self-injectables and long-acting reversible contraceptives. This success, driven by government commitment and innovative strategies, underscores the transformative impact of family planning investments, making Malawi's experience invaluable for journalists participating in the FPNN reporting trip in Lilongwe as they advocate for reproductive health and rights globally.

Highlights of the 2024 FPNN Reporting Trip in Malawi include:

Interviews & Networking: Participants will have the chance to connect with experts, fellow journalists, community leaders, and those served by these FP/SRHR programs to gain deeper insights into the impact of reproductive health investments.
FP/SRHR Story Generation: Attendees will attend key briefings on new data and regional policies, as well as learn about innovative solutions that will generate impactful stories on family planning and sexual and reproductive health.
Community/Partner Spotlights: The trip will include visits to local programs and initiatives that will showcase innovations, key learnings, and successes within the family planning and SRHR arena in Malawi.

"This reporting trip presents a unique opportunity for journalists to delve first-hand into the stories and experiences shaping the landscape of family planning and sexual and reproductive health in Africa and see how Malawi is improving the lives of women and girls, and in turn the country’s economic prosperity, by providing them with access to the family planning products and services for which they are asking," said Kellie Welborn, Director of the Secretariat for the 2025 International Conference on Family Planning and Senior Program Officer at the W. H. Gates Sr. Institute. ICFP made history last month announcing that Bogotá, Colombia will host the 2025 convening of over 4,000 family planning and sexual and reproductive health professionals in Latin America for the first time.

Nthanda Manduwi, FPNN Community Reporter, was selected as one of 12 Global Media Scholars to cover the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning in Pattaya City, Thailand, where she served as the debut host and anchor for the newly launched reproductive health media network.

“Having been represented by our founder, Ms. Nthanda Manduwi, and our COO, Mr. Victor C. Gondwe at the ICFP in Thailand, 2022, we are thrilled to collaborate with and host the Family Planning News Network on the first reporting trip happening in Malawi. Family Planning and SRHR are some of our advocacy priority areas as an organisation, and we look forward to engaging with journalists and content creators from the FPNN community during this reporting week,” shared Rhoda Kamwaza, Managing Director of the Ntha Foundation.

The 2024 FPNN Reporting Trip to Malawi is made possible through partnership with W. H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health and the International Conference on Family Planning. Journalists interested in participating in the FPNN Reporting Trip to Lilongwe, Malawi are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline, Thursday, April 18, 2024 at midnight EST.

For more information and to apply, please visit familyplanningnewsnetwork.org/malawi-2024.

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About Family Planning News Network:

Family Planning News Network (FPNN) is dedicated to amplifying stories and voices from around the world that highlight the importance of family planning and reproductive health. Through the extensive network provided by its sister platform International Conference on Family Planning, FPNN provides journalists and content creators with access to resources, expert insights, and opportunities for collaboration.

About International Conference on Family Planning

Since its inaugural convening in Kampala, Uganda in 2009, the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) has become a pivotal catalyst in global reproductive health. This world conference is a strategic inflection point for nations, institutions, and individuals seeking to pledge commitments and celebrate successes in family planning and reproductive health. More than a conference, ICFP has evolved into a digital platform resonating with researchers, health equity champions, governments, and communities alike. It’s a dynamic movement propelling universal family planning access, underpinned by a vibrant community fueled by collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and scientific integrity. ICFP stands as a testament to our shared commitment to shaping a world where every individual’s reproductive health is safeguarded, and where the principles of partnership, progress, and empowerment illuminate the path forward.

About W.H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:

W.H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, located within the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, works to promote and cultivate new ways to accelerate locally led progress in family planning and sexual and reproductive health. The Institute conducts and facilitates cutting-edge research in family planning, adolescent and youth reproductive health and population dynamics, and translates science into evidence-informed policies, programs and practice.

About Ntha Foundation

Ntha Community Foundation is an education trust that fosters the use of creativity and innovation for development through advocacy. We aim to assist in the creation of sustainable businesses, creating employment, and in the long run boosting the private sector. We use creativity and innovation to advocate for socio-economic transformation through strategic communication.

Journalists to Spotlight the Power of Investing in Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health