Pathfinder International

In the face of climate change and economic uncertainty, women in Lake Victoria, Kenya, are taking charge of their futures. Through the Darwin Initiative: Pairing Community Conservation Areas with Sustainable Aquaculture in Lake Victoria, implemented by Pathfinder Kenya in partnership with Conservation International, Victory Farms, and Fauna & Flora, women are gaining economic independence and building community resilience. Meet Pamela Salim, a resident of Roo Beach. Like many in her community, Pamela's livelihood was tied to the unpredictable fishing industry. But through Pathfinder's project, she accessed a community-led revolving fund designed to empower women with affordable, low-interest loans. Pamela used her loan to open a small grocery shop, and within a year, her income more than doubled! This allowed her to provide for her children's education and improve her family's living conditions. Pamela's story is not unique. Other women in her group have launched successful businesses in poultry farming, tailoring, and more. By diversifying their income streams, they're building economic resilience, driving community development, and protecting the environment by promoting sustainable fishing practices and protecting fish breeding grounds. "Starting my grocery shop with the loan changed everything for my family," says Pamela. "Now, I can provide for my children and contribute to our community in ways I never thought possible.” This project demonstrates the power of investing in women. When women thrive, communities thrive. Learn more about Pathfinder Kenya's work empowering women and building climate resilience in Lake Victoria in our latest issue of Pathways https://lnkd.in/eumAmz3r #WomensEmpowerment #ClimateResilience #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment #Kenya #LakeVictoria #PathfinderKenya #EconomicEmpowerment

Our USAID-funded Building Healthy Families (BHF) project hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion on flipping the narrative on family planning during the 25th Annual Population Research Conference at IBA University, Karachi. Academics, researchers, development practitioners, and youth brought diverse perspectives from economics, health care, and religious leadership, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach to family planning, tailored to the specific needs of different communities. Moderated by BHF’s Ehtesham Abbas, Dr. Kaiser Bengali, Dr. Tamkenat Mansoor, Dr. Iffat Zafar, and Khursheed Nadeem explored critical issues hindering family planning progress in Pakistan. Key takeaways included: - Understanding and addressing the key factors that drive families’ decisions about family planning is essential. - Poverty and women’s lack of autonomy over their health care decisions remains a significant barrier. Education and financial independence for women are key to progress. - Harmful practices like early marriages and son preference must be addressed. - The FP narrative needs to be embedded in the local culture with a buy-in of the local stakeholders. - Islam places significant emphasis on protecting and upholding women’s and children’s rights, which can serve as a powerful catalyst for promoting public health and accelerating the acceptance of family planning. "A woman without financial decision-making power or education cannot even dare to ask herself, 'Do I even want children?,'” said Dr. Iffat Agha, CEO, Sehat Kahani. Let’s work together to #FlipTheFP and create a healthier, more empowered future for Pakistan! #FamilyPlanning #PopulationHealth #WomenEmpowerment #Pakistan #USAID #BuildingHealthyFamilies #PathfinderPakistan USAID Population Association of Pakistan Sukkur IBA University Sehat Kahani Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga Tamkenat Mansoor Madiha Latif @Ehtesham Waqas Qureshi Zahra Sohail

In #Bangladesh, Pathfinder's Shukhi Jibon Project supported the Directorate General of Family Planning and National Technical Committee in assessing the feasibility of introducing the #hormonalIUD in public sector health facilities. The hormonal IUD, a long-acting #contraceptive method that provides 5 years of protection, proved to be better accepted than the copper IUD—and preferred by younger women and new #familyplanning users. Explore all of our findings in our report: https://bit.ly/4fXW7Wq

One of the ways Pathfinder #Ethiopia has advanced health equity is by increasing access to community-based health insurance. Under our USAID Transform: Primary Health Care Activity, we contributed to a three-fold increase in the number of households enrolled in Ethiopia, increasing access to basic health care services without additional out-of-pocket expenses. Today, we continue to enroll girls and their families in community-based health insurance in partnership with local health centers through the Girls' Education Support Project, which covers the enrollment fees of certain families. Through this initiative, we also engage girls in discussions on #SRHR through girls clubs. At a recent event, Pathfinder Ethiopia gathered girls club leaders and their families from secondary schools in Addis Ababa to orient them on the benefits of community-based health insurance, enroll them over the next year, and discuss gender-based violence. Sara Tealem, a student at Kefetegna secondary school told us about her experience in the girls club: “I’m glad to be a part of the girls club since we can talk about a lot of delicate topics. The women in my club help me grow and clear my career path, and I use poetry to communicate who I am and what I believe in.” #SRHR #healthequity #PathfinderEthiopia Pictured from left to right: Sara Tealem, Kahisu Kelali (teacher), Selamawit Shibru, and Maskerem Mosisa of Kefetegna 23 secondary school.

We are excited to announce the launch of Swasthneev campaign on healthy fertility with Indira IVF Group in India's Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand states! Globally, 1 in 6 people are affected by infertility. Taking a holistic approach to enhancing fertility health, the campaign focuses on raising awareness about the connections between fertility and nutrition, lifestyle, mental health, and substance abuse among young married couples. The Swasthneev (healthy foundation) campaign seeks to reach over 15 million people through digital communications including social media, influencer campaigns, and a microsite, and engage 150,000 people through activities in communities. Check out the Swasthneev microsite: www.fertility-first.com #PathfinderIndia #FamilyBuilding #FertilitySupport

Employee spotlight 🎊 We're thrilled to celebrate Flora Choudhary's 10-year anniversary at Pathfinder! She’s not only an incredible colleague but also a passionate home cook who loves exploring and recreating diverse cuisines in her kitchen. From her start as an executive assistant in Pathfinder's India Office to her current role as regional HR business partner for SA MENA, Flora's journey is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and commitment to our mission. Her contributions have been invaluable, and we're incredibly proud of her growth and achievements. Thank you, Flora, for your unwavering dedication and for inspiring us all. Join us in congratulating her on ten years as a Pathfinder! #WeArePathfinder #EmployeeSpotlight #10YearAnniversary #HR #GlobalHealth #StaffSpotlight

Pathfinder is a proud partner on both the MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience and PROPEL Adapt projects. Join us on February 26th for this important event that can help countries better prepare for the delivery of #SRH services during emergencies.

Supporting women’s health strengthens global health security and promotes resilience against future health crises. Yet women’s health security risks are growing. Women are the majority of the world’s agriculturalists, exposing them to disease outbreaks in livestock and water exacerbated during climate-driven disasters. At the same time, infections are becoming more difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance. Women are also the first to be displaced during crises. As women’s risk of gender-based violence increases, they can become exposed drug-resistant sexually transmitted infections. Women’s vulnerability to these health threats affect us all! Women are the majority of the world’s frontline health workforce, and they need our support to provide care in increasingly complex situations. We must support women and enhance the resilience of health systems to strengthen global health security. This includes: • Engaging entire communities in risk communication and early warning systems ahead of disasters. • Strengthening the infrastructure of health facilities and ensuring the availability of essential medicines. • Supporting the community health workforce in delivering health care, including reproductive and maternal health services, when disasters strike. • Leveraging technology to support the health workforce in delivering quality health care, especially in remote settings. Pathfinder is employing these approaches with our local partners around the world—increasing the resilience of women and their families to pandemics and climate-induced emergencies. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eNCApX-T #globalhealthsecurity #SRHR #womenshealth Madiha Latif

Let's celebrate the incredible work our teams in Bangladesh and Pakistan are doing to help end gender-based violence, as the year draws to a close! Showcasing their powerful initiatives to fight GBV and incorporate sexual and reproductive health initiatives when building climate change induced disaster resilience. Together, we’re creating a safer, more equal world for all. #NoExcuse #EndGBV #16DaysOfActivism #DisasterResilience #PathfinderInternational #GenderEquality #StrongerTogether #SRH #PathfinderPakistan #PathfinderBangladesh

We know climate change disproportionately impacts women and girls. Yet, they are still, far too often, excluded from the decision-making processes that shape climate adaptation strategies. Reflecting on her time at #COP29, Madiha Latif, our Pakistan country director, recognizes the critical role women play in building climate resilience in her latest blog on our site. She explains how, by empowering women, we can create more sustainable and equitable communities. She discusses how our work in Pakistan, informed by the Islamabad Declaration, highlights the power of women-led initiatives in addressing climate change. By partnering with the Pakistani government and local communities, we are empowering women to take charge of their future and build a more resilient world. Read the full piece to learn more about how women are driving change and why their voices must be heard in climate adaptation planning. https://lnkd.in/eYtXZqrb #ClimateChange #WomenEmpowerment #ClimateAdaptation #PathfindePakistan #GlobalHealth