US religious groups pour millions into African reproductive policy changes
New data shows US-based Christian organizations doubled their African spending in recent years. These groups aim to shape local health-care policies while working with regional partners
US christian-backed organizations have stepped-up their african presence with significant money-flows into the continent. According to fresh research by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change seventeen groups boosted their spending by half since about 5 years ago
The Instituteʼs findings show that US-based groups (which started with $54-mil investment back in 2015) are now pushing harder to shape health-care rules across multiple african nations. Martin Onyango from the Center for Reproductive Rights points to wide-ranging effects: “We see new bills popping up from Ghana to Uganda that try to limit health-care access thats been around for decades“
Several key organizations have direct links to Donald Trumpʼs administration and are part of Project 2025 – a policy package thats likely to be used if he returns to office. These groups work closely with local partners; using tactics that worked in america to influence african policies
- Uganda pulled back its health guidelines after pressure
- Kenya faces legal challenges to recent court decisions
- Ghana became testing ground for new strategies
- Malawi sees similar policy-change attempts
The money trail isnt easy to follow says Claire Provost who co-founded IJSC: “What we found is just the start; theres more happening behind the scenes. Its hard to track because new groups keep appearing“
In Kenya where laws changed about 14 years ago to allow some medical procedures Dr Ernest Nyamato explains how US decisions affect local views: “When they changed rules in america last year many here thought it meant everything became illegal there too“
The Kenya Christian Professionals Forum works with US-based Family Watch International whose spending went up five times since 2019. Sharon Slater its president spoke at african conferences recently but didnt comment on these activities
Saoyo Tabitha Griffith a local rights lawyer says these groups share training materials host events and organize protests. She remembers a counter-event during Nairobis big health conference in 2019 where US representatives joined local groups to oppose policy changes
