This August, the William H. Gates Sr. Institute’s Family Planning News Network (FPNN)will lead a collaborative reporting trip across Colombia in support of the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) 2025. Hosted by WHGI and coordinated with Colombia-based partners Profamilia, Fundación Valle del Lili, and i2 Marketing, this 10-day field reporting journey will spotlight community-led solutions in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), youth leadership, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian health equity, and migration.
The reporting trip will connect global and community journalists with local changemakers working at the frontlines of reproductive health in urban centers and rural territories across Colombia.
A Multi-City Itinerary Focused on Community-Driven Impact
The reporting team will travel through six regions of Colombia:
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Bogotá – Opening site for orientation and engagement with national SRHR leaders at Profamilia.
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Cali – Meetings with LGBTQ+ youth groups, Afro-descendant health providers, and Indigenous organizations.
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Guapi – Field reporting on Afro-Colombian-led public health practices in remote coastal areas.
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Santa Marta and Aracataca – Documenting youth empowerment through Profamilia’s Valiente project and exploring the cultural legacy of Gabriel García Márquez.
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Riohacha – Visits with the Wayuu Indigenous community and field coordination with UNFPA on SRHR and migration services.
This journey provides a unique opportunity to experience Colombia’s diverse approaches to health equity through in-person reporting, community dialogue, and multimedia storytelling.
Themes and Topics: What We’re Exploring
Throughout the journey, participants will explore the following key themes:
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Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Comprehensive sexuality education, safe abortion advocacy, and HIV prevention initiatives across Colombia.
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Indigenous and Afro-Colombian Health Equity: Community-based care models, traditional healing practices, and regional partnerships in areas such as Cauca and Guapi.
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Youth Leadership and Digital Advocacy: How young people in Colombia are mobilizing for rights and driving change through technology and social platforms.
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Migration and Border Health Coordination: Documenting the realities of Venezuelan migrants and local service delivery in border regions such as La Guajira.
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Cultural Context and Local Narratives: Exploring how storytelling, music, food, and history—especially in places like Aracataca—intersect with public health and human rights.
Why Colombia? Why Now?
Colombia presents a complex and inspiring backdrop for global conversations about reproductive health. With its cultural diversity, history of conflict and resilience, and commitment to inclusive health access, Colombia’s communities are generating solutions with global relevance.
This field reporting initiative directly supports the broader goals of ICFP 2025, which will convene leaders, advocates, and media in Bogotá from November 1 to 6, 2025. By building this body of community-rooted content in advance, FPNN and WHGI aim to ensure that local expertise shapes the global agenda.
Stay Connected
Coverage from this reporting trip will be featured on familyplanningnewsnetwork.org, gatesinstitute.org, and partner platforms leading up to and during ICFP 2025. Stories, interviews, visual content, and live dispatches will be released throughout the second half of 2025.
