The Challenge Initiative - TCI

08/27/2026

Over 10,000 people received family planning counseling without any additional cost for outreach.

In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, local government leaders did something remarkable: they wove family planning services directly into an already-funded MNCH Week. The result? 7,358 new family planning clients who were reached through smart integration, strong leadership, and a commitment to making every health touchpoint count.

This is what sustainable, locally-led health systems look like in practice. It's a model worth learning from. Read more at the link below. 👇

https://tciurbanhealth.org/in-akwa-ibom-nigeria-lga-leaders-wove-family-planning-into-mnch-week-without-adding-a-single-naira/

08/25/2026

When funding disappears, real people pay the price.

In rural Kenya, a 21-year-old mother found herself without access to contraception after global aid cuts disrupted the services she depended on. Without family planning support, women like her face impossible choices and the consequences can be life-altering.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what's at stake when global health funding falters. Access to family planning isn't just a health issue – it's a matter of dignity, safety, and the ability to shape one's own future.

At TCI, we're committed to building resilient, locally-led health systems that can withstand funding shocks and continue serving women when they need it most. Jhpiego

Read more at the link below.

https://tciurbanhealth.org/when-global-aid-cuts-hit-kenya-one-young-mother-lost-access-to-contraception-and-control-over-her-future/

08/20/2026

What does it take to go from 33% to 100%? In Bhubaneswar, India, the answer was equipping frontline health workers with the digital tools and training they needed to transform family planning supply chain management completely.

By bringing FPLMIS utilization to full capacity, TCI and local partners helped ensure that women in Odisha no longer face gaps in access to the family planning supplies they need. When supply chains work, communities thrive.

This is what sustainable, systems-level change looks like and it starts with the people closest to the work.

Read more at the link below to see how digital innovation is strengthening family planning services from the ground up.

PSI India

https://tciurbanhealth.org/from-33-to-100-how-bhubaneswar-india-digitized-its-way-to-uninterrupted-family-planning-supplies/

08/18/2026

After more than a year of sustained advocacy, Pakistan has achieved a landmark win for women's health: tax exemptions on contraceptives and hygiene products are now written into the country's 2026–27 federal budget. This hard-won policy change was the result of coordinated efforts across provincial and national levels. It means lower prices and greater access for millions of women and families who need these essential products most.

Policy change is one of the most powerful levers we have for expanding family planning access at scale. When governments remove barriers like taxes on contraceptives, the impact reaches far beyond any single clinic or community.

This is what sustained, strategic advocacy looks like in action. Read more at the link below.

Greenstar Social Marketing

https://tciurbanhealth.org/pakistan-scraps-taxes-on-contraceptives-and-hygiene-products-after-year-long-advocacy-push-across-provincial-and-national-levels/

08/11/2026

Meaningful change starts before a single program launches. 🌱 In Surabaya and Depok, Indonesia, TCI and BKKBN are taking a deliberate, community-centered approach – bringing local stakeholders together from the very beginning to co-design family planning programs that are evidence-based and built to last. By investing in strong foundations now, these cities are setting themselves up for sustainable, locally-led impact in the years ahead. This is what it looks like to do development differently: not imposing solutions from the outside, but building them from within.

Take a closer look at the start-up activities shaping this exciting new chapter for TCI Indonesia. 👇
https://tciurbanhealth.org/laying-the-groundwork-inside-tci-indonesias-start-up-activities-ahead-of-implementation-in-surabaya-and-depok/
Jalin Foundation

08/06/2026

Three cities in the Philippines are proving that lasting change in maternal and child health starts from within. In Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Iligan, TCI's newest program is taking a systems-strengthening approach – coaching local governments to build on the structures they already have to better protect mothers and children. Rather than creating parallel systems, this model invests in the people and institutions already responsible for care, making progress more sustainable long after external support ends. It's a powerful reminder that community ownership isn't just a principle – it's a strategy. We're proud to support this work alongside dedicated local partners. Zuellig Family Foundation

Read more at the link below.

https://tciurbanhealth.org/new-tci-philippines-program-coaches-three-cities-to-strengthen-their-own-sustainable-maternal-and-child-health-systems/

08/04/2026

When a routine password change threatened to cut off family planning services for thousands of women in Karachi, fast action made all the difference. 🔐

TCI and PPHI Sindh stepped in quickly to restore a critical data system before any stock-outs could occur – ensuring that clients never experienced a gap in care. It's a powerful reminder that strong health systems aren't just about medicines and providers. They depend on the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that keeps everything running smoothly.

This story highlights what's possible when partners are aligned, responsive, and committed to protecting the people they serve – even when the challenge comes from an unexpected place. Greenstar Social Marketing

Read more at the link below. 👇
https://tciurbanhealth.org/a-password-change-nearly-disrupted-family-planning-services-in-karachi-until-tci-and-pphi-sindh-stepped-in/

07/31/2026

Read our latest newsletter! -

Quarterly Insights from The Challenge Initiative.

07/30/2026

When a public health center in Patna couldn't keep up with client demand for long-acting contraception, one private gynecologist made all the difference. Dr. Farheen stepped in — not just to provide IUCD services directly, but to train frontline nurses on the spot, building lasting capacity where it was needed most. This is what public-private collaboration looks like in action: filling critical gaps, strengthening local health systems, and ensuring women get the care they deserve. Stories like Dr. Farheen's remind us that sustainable change often begins with one committed provider. PSI India

Read more at the link below.
https://tciurbanhealth.org/private-gynecologist-steps-in-to-deliver-iucd-services-and-train-frontline-nurses-at-patna-uphc/

07/28/2026

When communities take ownership of their health, lasting change becomes possible. 🌍 In Siaya County, Kenya, the Department of Health and Sanitation is doing exactly that — transitioning family planning and maternal health services from donor-funded pilots to sustainably financed, county-led programs. With support from The Challenge Initiative, Siaya County is building the systems and local capacity needed to ensure families have access to quality care long into the future. This is what sustainable health transformation looks like: governments leading, communities thriving, and impact that endures. Read more at the link below. Jhpiego



https://tciurbanhealth.org/siaya-county-strengthens-family-planning-and-maternal-health-services-through-sustainable-partnership-with-the-challenge-initiative/