Organisational history
Interact Worldwide (formerly Population Concern) was founded as an independent entity in 1991, but had been operational while under the auspices of the UK Family Planning Association (FPA) for more than 20 years. The organisation split off from FPA under the name of Population Concern, as FPA wanted to concentrate on its domestic objectives, and the mandate of the new Population Concern was the management of the international project portfolio. The change from Population Concern to Interact Worldwide was effected in April 2003.
Interact Worldwide promotes efforts to achieve the MDGs, especially MDG 5 and 6, by working to improve sexual and reproductive health and well-being and reducing vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. We build the capacity of people and organisations to empower individuals to exercise the right to sexual and reproductive health. We promote civil society engagement in strengthening health systems (in the context of SRH) and responses to HIV and AIDS, including integration of SRH and HIV and AIDS services.
We have over 30 years experience working with local partners in some of the poorest countries in Asia and Africa where we identify and implement local solutions to improving access to health services. Our programs target key vulnerable populations, including rural under-served women and adolescents, commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users. In parallel we work with governments and key donors at national, European and global level to positively influence decision making, to promote better health policies and to argue for funding that enables communities to access sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS information, services and supplies.
IW merged with respected UK based INGO Plan UK on 1st October 2010 but remains an autonomous organisation with its own Board of Trustees as part of the Plan family of charities. The merger will allow Interact to expand its SRHR programming to more countries and develop new business models to ensure even more young people and adults can lead healthier lives. You can read more about the merger and what it means here.