Most reproductive health programs fail to address the influence men have on their own health and the health of women. The work that IGWG funds in this area promotes gender equity with regard to reproductive health, increases men's support for women's reproductive health and children's well being, and advances the reproductive health of both men and women. Of special interest are proposals that point to ways programs can be redefined to include men in more constructive ways, potentially as clients, as partners, and as supportive influences in the lives of women.

Key themes of interest to the IGWG:

• Services to accommodate men as clients and partners.
• Provider bias and providers' comfort and capabilities in working with men and couples.
• Gender-equitable men as leaders and advocates.
• Innovative strategies to reach men.

For more information about the Men and Reproductive Health Task Force (formerly Subcommittee), including the core values outlined by the subcommittee, click here.

For statements on the three priority themes—meeting the needs of adolescent boys, dual protection, and gender-based violence and reproductive health—see captured material from the Reproductive Health Outlook (RHO) website, which is no longer active. The RHO website was supported by the Men and Reproductive Health Subcommittee of the IGWG.

Constructive Male Engagement Products and Activities

Symposium on Working with Men to Stop Violence
In December 2009, in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the IGWG sponsored an event to hear from experts about their work with men to change norms around masculinity and lower the incidence of gender-based violence.

Capacity Building Workshop on Engaging Men and Boys
Todd Minerson, executive director of the White Ribbon Campaign, led this hands-on workshop on "Engaging Men and Boys in Ending Violence against Women." The workshop was designed using the exercises and approach to training of the White Ribbon Campaign—the largest global campaign of men dedicated to preventing and ending violence against women. It was held in December 2009 at PATH in Washington, DC.

Engaging Men for Gender Equality and Improved Reproductive Health (PDF: 549KB)
This brief describes the evolution of constructive men’s engagement (CME) over the last 15 years and makes the case for why it is critical in achieving improved reproductive health and gender equality.  Four promising policy initiatives are described, as well as a process for advocating for policy change and recommendations for what policy and advocacy audiences need to consider (December 2009).

SysteMALEtizing Resources for Engaging Men in Sexual and Reproductive Health
Decades of research on reproductive and child health show that everyone can benefit when men are thoughtfully engaged. But distinguishing among the number and diversity of programs, research, and tools is daunting. This brochure, prepared by Margaret Greene for the IGWG, lays out many of the key resources for working with men and provides a framework for distinguishing among varied programs, illustrating the range with strong examples. It also provides guidance for how male engagement can be a lens through which communities question norms about masculinity and programs integrate approaches to gender equity. (July 2006)

Reaching Men to Improve Reproductive Health for All: An Implementation Guide
This guide provides examples of how to develop, implement, and evaluate reproductive health programs that involve men in promoting gender equity and improving health outcomes for men and women. This tool draws on information gathered at the conference described below. (September 2004)

Reaching Men to Improve Reproductive Health for All Conference
The Interagency Gender Working Group of USAID, through its Men and Reproductive Health Task Force, hosted a three-day international conference in September 2003 on the state-of-the-art programming for constructive male involvement in reproductive health.

Involving Men in Sexual and Reproductive Health: Orientation Guide
This guide is a series of presentations/workshops produced by the Men and & RH Subcommittee. The guide includes a module on GBV and Reproductive Health, providing data on the prevalence of GBV and its effects on women's well being. It also addresses male socialization and approaches to mitigating GBV.