Eleven Dutch organizations join forces to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide
Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, and eleven Dutch civil society organizations launched a new, groundbreaking alliance yesterday for the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide: the SRHR Next Alliance. SRHR encompasses people’s rights to make informed decisions about their bodies, health and relationships and to access quality healthcare, information and education, free from coercion, discrimination and violence.
This alliance combines the forces of eleven Dutch organizations to offer a powerful response to global funding cuts to SRHR and the rise of anti-rights movements undermining SRHR. The alliance consists of Aidsfonds, Amref Health Africa, CHOICE, COC, Hivos, Liliane Fonds, Oxfam Novib, Plan International, Rutgers, VSO, and Wemos.
Minister Sjoerdsma: “Sexual and reproductive health and rights are under pressure worldwide. That is why it is good that Dutch organizations are joining forces and working together on, among other things, better access to healthcare, safe abortion, and HIV prevention. Strengthening the position of women, girls and other vulnerable groups is a key priority of our foreign policy. The government is therefore investing 33 million euros in this new alliance.”
Two-and-a-half-year programme
The SRHR Next Alliance kicks off with a two-and-a-half-year programme together with local partners in eight countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Niger, Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon and Jordan. The programme focuses on improving and promoting SRHR services, SRHR information and education, and strengthening societal and political support for SRHR.
In many of these countries, young people with disabilities continue to face barriers to accessing healthcare, information and services. At the same time, harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, as well as gender inequality and social stigma, can limit their ability to exercise their rights and make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
The programme centers local and youth leadership, shared responsibility, and fair resource allocation. The Dutch organizations in the SRHR Next Alliance play a coordinating and connecting role between country partners and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, which funds the programme.
Necessary alliance in times of crisis
The launch of the alliance comes at a critical moment for sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. Global SRHR financing is facing a severe crisis. Since 2025, major donors have significantly reduced funding, putting the health, rights and lives of millions of people, especially young people, women and girls with disabilities, at risk.
Funding cuts are already affecting access to contraception, healthcare and essential medicines, threatening to increase unintended pregnancies and preventable maternal deaths and reverse progress in HIV prevention. At the same time, anti-rights movements and political forces continue to challenge hard-won gains in gender equality and bodily autonomy, further deepening inequalities.
Stronger together
By joining forces, the eleven organizations reduce fragmentation, create a powerful and united voice on SRHR and allow for efficient and high-quality use of resources. Moreover, a Learning & Expertise Hub will drive knowledge exchange, applied research and innovation across countries, ensuring continuous learning and improved programme effectiveness.
The launch of the SRHR Next Alliance is a strong signal of the Netherlands’ commitment to a world where everyone can make informed decisions about their bodies, health and relationships, free from discrimination and violence.
