Population News

• Congress Rejects Large Cuts in International Family Planning Assistance Dec. 20, 2011 - The omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress this week froze bilateral international family planning assistance at last year’s level of $575 million, but cut funding for the United Nations Population Fund from $40 million to $35 million. While the cut in funding for UNFPA is a setback, House opponents of family planning failed in their efforts to slash the funding levels by 25 percent. Read More »
• New FAO Report Says Food Price Volatility Likely to Continue Oct. 21, 2011 - A new report released this month warns that "food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity." The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011, published by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the World Food Programme, looks at how the food crisis of 2006-2008 had a differing impact on countries around the world, the costs of food price volatility, and the dangers and upsides of high food prices. Read More »
• Key Budget Battle Looms Sep. 23, 2011 - The Senate Appropriations Committee this week approved a State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012 that would provide $700 million for international family planning assistance, including $40 million for the United Nations Population Fund. The Senate action would boost funding by $85 million over this year's appropriation level ($615 million), but a House Appropriations Subcommittee last month approved only $461 million, a 25 percent cut in funding. Read More »