After a year of incredible work, including training 200 community health workers and exceeding the project goals by 135%, Pro Mujer and the Wyss Foundation announced the expansion of their partnership to scale the initiative’s advocacy model and strengthen Bolivian women’s education and access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.
The success of this program is even more significant in Bolivia, where women face deeply entrenched gender gaps in access to health care. In Bolivia, the femininity index of poverty reached 118% (ECLAC) and 50% of women of reproductive age do not have their family planning needs met (UNFPA). In addition, 40% of women do not have access to modern contraceptive methods. There is a clear and urgent need to strengthen innovative and sustainable models that support and encourage women’s full exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights in the country.
Phase 1 Achievements
From June 2024 to June 2025, we implemented a multi-pronged intervention in nine departments in Bolivia, focusing on access to modern contraceptive methods and the empowerment of marginalized women. Some of the project’s main achievements include:
- 200 community health workers (CHW) received training on sexual and reproductive health.
- Thanks to a multi-channel communication strategy and 6 community activations, the project’s outreach goal was exceeded by 135%, successfully reaching more than 15,000 people in both rural and urban areas.
- Our sexual and reproductive health educational chatbot was used by 3,300 women, resulting in more than 700 personalized consultations and 350 referrals.
- More than 6,100 modern contraceptive methods were distributed to 2,400 women, 61% of whom belonged to vulnerable groups.
- Participants reported a 60% increase in their sexual and reproductive health knowledge.
- An impact study will be published in partnership with the Universidad Privada Boliviana.
The lessons learned from this project confirm the importance of combining digital, community-based, and in-person initiatives to expand and strengthen the role of community health workers as key actors, capable of promoting rights, providing reliable information, and generating trust with local communities. It is also clear that strategic partnerships are essential to overcome the economic and logistical barriers that limit women’s access to health.
The new phase of the project will build on both the lessons learned and the achievements from this first year. We will seek to scale the project model, incorporate more technology, strengthen our strategic partnerships, and continue to bet on our woman-centered approach. We will also continue to work to bridge the needs of communities and connect them with the sexual and reproductive health services they deserve.
This project is a testament to our commitment to women’s autonomy, well-being, and rights in Bolivia. Thank you to the Wyss Foundation for believing in our work and to every person on the team who made it possible.
