Canada and the United Nations Population Fund

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the primary international organization focused on population, demographics and reproductive health, including maternal health. Established in 1969, UNFPA has a mandate to support countries in using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and ensure that:

• Every pregnancy is wanted
• Every birth is safe
• Every young person is free of HIV/AIDS
• Every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect

UNFPA uses culturally sensitive approaches, focusing on vulnerable groups such as young people and women, promoting human rights and gender equality, and ensuring access to reproductive health care and commodities, including during humanitarian crises.

Achievements

In 2011, with the support of Canada and other donors, UNFPA:

• Helped almost all of the 156 countries it works in to conduct household or thematic surveys between 2007 and 2011 to collect population data, which will be used to improve services
• Strengthened midwifery regulation, services and training in 30 countries and launched more than 150 midwifery schools and associations, in collaboration with the International Confederation of Midwives—midwives can help avert 2/3 of maternal deaths and half of newborn deaths provided they are well-trained, well-equipped, well-supported and authorized
• Helped expand access to voluntary family planning services in 45 countries
• Helped strengthen youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention and treatment services in 87 countries
• Continued to lead the Campaign to End Fistula, which has enabled more than 27,000 women to receive surgical treatment for the condition—7,000 in 2011 alone