Organon & YLabs Partner to Bring Climate Lens to Sexual and Reproductive Health Investments in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
March 24, 2023: Organon, a global healthcare company, has partnered with YLabs to create a strategic framework that brings a climate lens to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) investments in low- and middle-income, climate-vulnerable countries.
Climate change has been identified as the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, and it presents a growing and disproportionate health risk for women and girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In these regions, women and girls are more often exposed to natural hazards and climate-related damage, and they have less access to reproductive health care due to cultural and societal norms. To address the intersection of climate, health, and gender, Organon and YLabs are collaborating to create a framework that will help funders develop more effective, climate resilient, and gender transformative SRH investments.
"We're proud to partner with YLabs to bring a climate lens to sexual and reproductive health investments in low- and middle-income countries," said Geralyn Ritter, Executive Vice President, External Affairs & ESG, Organon. "We believe this could serve as an important tool to guide our investments—as well as those from others in the private and public sectors—to tackle the challenges women and girls face due to climate change."
The framework will guide funders on how to practically, yet strategically assess, anticipate, and respond to the gendered impacts of climate change on their SRH programs and grant investments. Organon and YLabs are committed to creating a framework that is inclusive of all identities and experiences, and that takes into account the intersectional factors that impact marginalized communities.
YLabs’ Co-Founder and CEO Rebecca Hope added, "We believe that this framework will be instrumental in helping funders navigate the complex challenges presented by climate change and in creating healthcare investments that are not only responsive, but proactive, to addressing the increasing effects of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights for all."
This project is an important step toward ensuring that healthcare investments are effective, resilient and equitable, in the face of a climate crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls in the Global South.
Learn more about the Climate SRH Framework and stay tuned for more updates as we progress!
Contact: Nicole Ippoliti, Technical Director, YLabs