UNFPA’s Thematic Funds in the Context of the COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 is having a detrimental impact on the lives of women, girls and young people. UNFPA estimates that 47 million women in 114 low- and middle-income countries will be unable to use modern contraceptives and an additional 7 million unintended pregnancies will result if the lockdown continues for 6 months with major disruptions to services. A six-month lockdown is also estimated to result in an additional 31 million cases of gender-based violence.

COVID-19 could critically undermine progress against UNFPA’s three transformative results by 2030, ending unmet need for family planning, ending gender-based violence including harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, and ending all preventable maternal deaths.

UNFPA’s response to the coronavirus pandemic is focused on preserving momentum on these results by delivering on three strategic priorities:

1) continuity of sexual and reproductive health services;

2) addressing gender-based violence; and

3) ensuring the supply of modern contraceptives and reproductive health commodities.