The Government of Flanders grants 3 million euros in funding to the 'Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP)' of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank. It is an extension of the current support. From this year until 2025, the HRP will receive 750.000 euros annually.

The programme coordinates scientific research on sexual and reproductive health. It deals, for example, with information on sexuality, contraception or access to safe abortion, but also with the role of the health system in the fight against violence against women, or the best way to guide people through pregnancy or fertility problems.

Many of these topics are sensitive or fraught with prejudice. With global research, the HRP provides facts, figures and insight into the different local contexts. Based on this, guidelines and standards are developed, with the recognition of the World Health Organisation. These should help countries set up effective health policies around these issues, not policies based on prejudice.

The HRP has a specific focus on low- and middle-income countries. Flanders' support matches the fourth Flanders-Mozambique country strategy paper, which focuses on research and capacity building around sexual reproductive health and rights.