Organizing for social change and policy reform: Lessons from the international planned parenthood federation

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) was formed by a network of volunteers from around the world concerned about maternal and infant mortality and the lack of family planning information and services available. The IPPF network is credited with having a global influence on population policies and the development of public support for the provision of family planning services. The success of the movement is due in large part to their organizing strategies. They initially organized around what we would now identify as a network as opposed to a bureaucratic approach. Over time the IPPF became a large international bureaucracy but the lessons of the early years hold important implications for grassroots organizations promoting policy and social change.