Why Reproductive Health Is a Development Imperative for Africa

We recently marked World Contraception Day, but the conversation about reproductive health cannot be confined to a single day of awareness. Reproductive health is not only a health issue; it is a development imperative that shapes education outcomes, family well-being, and the long-term prosperity of societies across Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa has made substantial progress in access to modern family planning. Nearly 80 million women now use a modern contraceptive method, 38 million more than in 2012. In 2025, modern contraceptive use is estimated to have prevented 29.5 million unintended pregnancies, 7.6 million unsafe abortions, and 72,000 maternal deaths. ¹ This progress illustrates the wider value of reproductive health access for women, families and communities. 

But greater access does not automatically dispel fear or misinformation. Contraception remains a sensitive issue in many communities, where misconceptions and concerns continue to shape individual choices. Some women fear possible effects on their future fertility, while others are influenced by exaggerated perceptions of side effects or cultural norms that limit open discussion. These concerns deserve thoughtful engagement. Addressing them requires trusted information, respectful dialogue and communication firmly grounded in scientific evidence. 

At its core, the debate should not set personal beliefs against medical solutions. Instead, it should focus on a simple question: how can we ensure that every woman has access to the information she needs to make a free and informed decision about her reproductive health?

This question is particularly important given that Africa is currently the youngest continent in the world. Family planning is therefore not only about meeting present needs, but also about shaping the future. It can help girls remain in school, enable women to pursue their professional aspirations and support families in planning for the years ahead.2

Reproductive health is therefore far more than a medical concern. It is an important contributor to human and economic development. At a time of rapid population growth and rising demand for education, employment and social services, enabling women to decide whether and when to have children can help build stronger, more resilient and more prosperous communities. 3

Advancing access to reproductive health information and services requires a shared commitment from governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, international partners, and the private sector. As a longstanding partner in women’s health, Bayer is contributing to this collective effort through a commitment to help 100 million women in low- and middle-income countries have access to modern contraception by 2030.⁴

This commitment is reflected in practical initiatives developed in partnership with governments, international organizations, healthcare professionals, and civil society. Through collaborations such as The Challenge Initiative (TCI), which supports cities in strengthening their family planning program, and through support for national family planning campaigns in several African countries, Bayer contributes to expanding access to reliable information and essential services, while strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers.

These efforts are producing encouraging results. In 2026, Bayer-supported family planning campaigns in Mali and Guinea helped reach approximately 162,000 and more than 101,000 new users of modern contraceptive methods, respectively, according to data provided by the two countries’ Ministries of Health. Across the region, Bayer-supported campaigns are expected to reach nearly 500,000 new users by the end of 2026.

I recall a conversation with Dr. Ben Moulaye Idriss, Director of Mali’s National Office for Reproductive Health, who noted:

“The results achieved during the integrated national family planning campaign demonstrate the importance of partnerships between health authorities and technical and financial partners, including the private sector. Bayer’s support helped strengthen service availability and enabled a significant number of women to access information and modern contraceptive methods.”

Despite this progress, substantial gaps remain. Stock-outs, disparities in access between urban and rural areas, shortages of qualified healthcare professionals and the gradual decline of some sources of international funding continue to limit the availability and accessibility of reproductive health services.

This is why I believe that continued progress will depend on strong partnerships, greater government commitment, resilient health systems and coordinated action towards a common goal: ensuring that every woman has the information and services she needs to make free and informed choices about her reproductive health.

On World Contraception Day, our ambition should not be to bring the conversation to a close, but to create the conditions for a more informed and constructive dialogue. This requires careful listening, reliable information, trained healthcare professionals, and accessible services. Governments, healthcare partners, civil society organizations and the private sector all have a role to play.

When women can make free and informed choices about their reproductive health, the benefits extend beyond improved health outcomes. They contribute to educational opportunities, stronger families and communities, and more resilient societies. Advancing reproductive health is therefore not only a health priority. It is an investment in Africa’s sustainable development and shared future.

References:

FP2030. FP2030 Measurement Report 2025. Available from FP2030 data portal. Accessed 2026.

Adesina A, Kalamar A, Weissman E, Karra M, Pearson E, Sully E. Returns on investment in family planning across 54 low- and middle-income countries: a demographic and economic modelling study. VeriXiv. 2026.

Finlay JE, Gulaid M, Mibenge C, et al. The Case for Investment in Family Planning for Women's Empowerment and Economic Development: An Introduction to the Family Planning Impact Consortium. New York: Guttmacher Institute ; 2023.

Lerch D. Bayer to significantly step-up its sustainability efforts. Bayer News. 2019.

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