FP2020 Governance Structure
The global family planning movement involves hundreds of organizations across multiple sectors. FP2020’s role is to provide a platform for collaboration among these many diverse participants, helping to ensure that agendas are aligned, knowledge is shared, and new cooperative strategies are pursued.
FP2020’s current governance structure consists of three components: a Reference Group for strategic direction, a Secretariat for day-to-day administration, and four expert Working Groups that provide technical guidance and support.
The Reference Group is responsible for overall strategic direction and coordination. Its 18 members represent national governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, donor foundations, and the private sector. The current co-chairs are Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Dr. Chris Elias, president of global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Secretariat reports directly to the Reference Group and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of FP2020. Hosted by the United Nations Foundation, the Secretariat manages daily operations, administers the Rapid Response Mechanism, and supports the strategies of the Reference Group and Working Groups.
Photo by: Marco Domino/UN
The expert Working Groups, including two co-leads each, focus on key elements of the overall initiative:
- The Country Engagement Working Group concentrates on ensuring that countries get the support they need to develop, implement, and monitor their family planning programs.
- The Market Dynamics Working Group works to ensure that a broad range of quality-assured, affordable contraceptive methods are available to the women and girls who need them.
- The Performance Monitoring & Evidence Working Group monitors progress toward FP2020 goals and develops evidence in key dimensions of family planning to inform advocates and decision makers.
- The Rights & Empowerment Working Group ensures that a fundamental respect for the rights of women and girls underpins all of FP2020’s efforts.
In November 2014, the Reference Group approved a refinement of FP2020’s governance structure that introduced a staggered term-rotation process for members of the Reference Group and Working Groups. A new Reference Group cohort was announced in February 2015, and new Working Group co-leads were announced in May 2015.
FP2020’s governance structure will be further revised as part of the Secretariat-led internal strategic review that began in May 2015. That review process was ongoing at the time of this report and scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.
FP2020 and the global family planning community were deeply saddened by the passing of Valerie DeFillipo, FP2020’s founding executive director, in April 2015. Valerie was a tireless advocate whose visionary leadership helped the FP2020 initiative grow into a flourishing and dynamic global movement.
Beth Schlachter, who had led FP2020 as interim executive director since February 2015, was announced as the new executive director at the end of April 2015. Martyn Smith joined the Secretariat as managing director in October 2015.
Our shared goal is ambitious—and it has to be. Family planning saves lives and unlocks the potential of women, their families and communities. But while we have made progress, the latest data show that we’re not yet meeting our goals. With five years to go, we have a window of opportunity to get back on track. We need to learn from the data in this report and make adjustments so we can make more progress, faster, for more women. When we do, those empowered women and girls will help make a better future for everyone.
Melinda Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
