Population Action International (PAI)

Population Action International (PAI) advocates for women and families to have access to contraception in order to improve their health, reduce poverty and protect their environment. Our research and advocacy strengthen U.S. and international assistance for family planning. We work with local and national leaders in developing countries to improve their reproductive health care programs and policies. PAI shows how these programs are critical to global concerns, such as preventing HIV, combating the effects of environmental degradation and climate change, and strengthening national security.

PAI exists because providing women with the family planning they want can save hundreds of thousands of lives, prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce unsafe abortion. For 45 years, PAI has worked with bipartisan supporters to help the millions of women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy but do not have access to contraception. PAI's work with U.S. policymakers in the Executive Branch and Congress has helped to achieve significant funding increases and policy advances, such as repealing the Global Gag Rule.

PAI collaborates with advocacy partners worldwide to ensure reproductive health is a priority. We interpret U.S. policies and global funding trends for our international colleagues and provide grants to community-based organizations to support their own advocacy efforts. Support from PAI is often an organization's only dedicated funding for advocacy. PAI's partnerships have helped build a strong global network of advocates that work with policymakers in their countries and regions to improve access to family planning.

Our advocacy is based on innovative research that examines the policy implications of critical reproductive health issues, including the impact of demographics on security and the links between climate change and population. In recent years, PAI researchers have also tracked access to reproductive health supplies in developing countries and analyzed the costs of meeting the demand for family planning.

PAI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that accepts no government funding, and is supported by tax-deductible contributions from individuals and foundations. We recognize that great inequalities exist in accessing contraception throughout the world, and strive to expand its reach as far as possible.