Empowering Women, Globally

By 2030, we aim to help provide 100 million women in low- and middle-income countries with access to modern contraception yearly.

In many parts of the world, girls’ and women’s ability to determine their path in life comes down to the decision on whether and/or when to start a family. This decision often depends on access to contraception and family planning options, which in turn can be a key factor in whether or not many women pursue an education or career. Family planning is also a human right and a matter of health – therefore, it is urgently needed to empower women´s health and enable women and girls to choose the number, timing and spacing of their pregnancies. Additionally, data has shown that when women have access to contraception, their role in society is strengthened, and this has multiple positive effects for their families, communities and societies as a whole.

In contrast, lack of awareness, access and social acceptance of contraception present huge obstacles for many women as they try to take control of their lives. According to the United Nations, however, over 200 million women in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) who want to avoid pregnancy don't use safe and effective family planning methods.

Family planning—the ability of women and girls to choose the number, timing and spacing of their pregnancies—is a fundamental human right and a crucial aspect of healthcare. In many regions around the world, the autonomy of girls and women in shaping their own lives hinges on the decision of whether and when to start a family. This decision is often influenced by awareness and social acceptance of contraception and family planning options as well as access to affordable contraceptive products.

For over 50 years, Bayer has been supporting education programs and rights-based family planning initiatives in more than 130 countries. Our focus has been on ensuring access to safe and modern forms of contraception. As a leading innovator in Women's Health, Bayer considers this commitment an integral part of our broader sustainability approach, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5, which emphasize gender equality and health.

To incorporate this into our business strategy, we have set an ambitious target for our efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): to annually increase the number of women using modern contraception and reach a total of 100 million women yearly by 2030. Achieving this goal requires more than just access to Bayer products; it necessitates strong partnerships and innovative thinking. Discover more about our access strategies and programs below:

Tracking our progress against our commitment.

Our goal to provide 100m women in 2030 with access to modern contraception was established as an ambitious target in line with Bayer’s mission of “Health for all – hunger for none”. It is supported by the significant growth of the female population in reproductive age in low and low-middle income countries over the decade. The use of modern contraception has been steadily increasing in recent years, supported by structured family planning programs and shifting social norms that prioritize voluntary family planning. Meeting the growing demand requires the involvement of suppliers like Bayer, who play a pivotal role in reaching girls and women through partnerships.

In 2022, Bayer’s women’s health products, including pills, injectables, intrauterine devices (IUD), intrauterine systems (IUS) and implants were used by around 42 million women in LMICs. Additionally, the TCI program, supported by Bayer, reported over 2 million additional users of contraception in their participating cities.

The number of users reached in each year is calculated from the client data provided by our project partners and from internal supply data, if applicable to our own products. The data is translated into user numbers according to couple-years-of-protection methodology, as utilized by USAID and updated by MSI Reproductive Choices. As with its other sustainability targets, Bayer will monitor and report the outcomes of the 100m women goal with the same rigor as financial targets on an annual basis. For a detailed description of the calculation methodology, please refer to this document.

The goal to provide 100m women in 2030 with access to modern contraception is built on the insight that the demand for contraception in the low and low-middle income countries (LMICs) will grow over the next decade. By 2030, at least 100 million women more than today will be in the reproductive age range of 15 to 49 years in LMICs. Structured family planning programs and accelerating shifts in social norms will make it likely that future generations of young women will be unwilling to miss out on the benefits of voluntary family planning. With that in mind, the idea of the 100 million appears to be a valuable target level for an aspirational goal setting.

In 2020, Bayer’s women’s health products, including pills, injectables, intrauterine devices (IUD), intrauterine systems (IUS) and implants were used by around 40 million women in LMICs. More than the half of these women received products via the donor-funded public model, while the other half receive the products via private channels.