The Mission
The Reproductive Health Access, Information and Services in Emergencies (RAISE) Initiative is catalysing change
in how reproductive health (RH) is addressed by all sectors involved in emergency response, from field services to
advocacy, from local aid providers to global relief movements.
Developed by Columbia University's Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health in the Mailman School of
Public Health and Marie Stopes International (MSI), the RAISE Initiative aims to address the full range of RH needs
for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) by building partnerships with humanitarian and development
agencies, governments, United Nations (UN) bodies, advocacy agencies and academic institutions.
Through the expertise of our staff and leading research institutions; the power of cooperative partnerships with
leading agencies and across multiple sectors; and the development of consistent, clearly established objectives for
RH, the RAISE Initiative is well positioned to address the pressing RH needs of populations affected by emergencies.
The RAISE Initiative represents a strengthened commitment to the provision of fully integrated and comprehensive
RH services for all.
