MSI’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
At a time when some are pulling back from their commitments to diversity, equality and inclusion, MSI Reproductive Choices remains firm in our values. We aren’t backing down.
We’re committed to DEI and gender equality because we believe that everyone who comes through our doors deserves high-quality, client-centered healthcare that meets her or his needs.
Catherine Harry, a communications specialist for MSI Cambodia, explains: “A thriving organization listens to everyone’s voices, particularly a client-centered organization like MSI. We can have blind spots in the services we deliver if we aren’t taking everyone’s voices into account.”
What are our DEI commitments?
As a global organization working in 36 countries, we’re very aware that diversity, equality, and inclusion can look different in different contexts.
Our Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy is a three-year strategy that lays out concrete commitments. We track our progress every year as part of our Annual Report – you can find last year’s update by clicking here.
Our top DEI priorities are:
- A Clear Vision
Diversity, equality and inclusion have different meanings and applications across the various countries and cultures where we operate. We’ll therefore clearly communicate what we mean by DEI, its relevance to MSI, and what we want to achieve through implementing the DEI strategy.
- Accountability
Our leadership and management is committed to accountability and to building organizational knowledge on equity and inclusive behaviors. We’ll ensure every MSI team member is aware of their own role in supporting DEI.
- Talent Pipeline
Developing and retaining talent is fundamental to grow individual potential, build our talent pipeline and meet MSI’s needs. We’re particularly committed to making sure that our country programs are led by people from the countries and regions they serve.
- Strategic Communications
We’ll use strategic communication to bring clarity and visibility to DEI. Key to this is establishing inclusive and mindful communication practices that encourage inclusive behaviors towards our fellow team members and our clients.
- A Culture of Inclusion
We want to create the conditions for more open communication and feedback, and will do this by empowering our team members to speak up and share their perspectives.
- Gender Equality & Social Inclusion
We’ll take a specific focus on gender equality and social inclusion focusing on our programming, the clients and communities we serve.
What will the Trump administration’s anti-DEI executive order mean for MSI?
At MSI, we remain committed to diversity, equality and inclusion. We will not back down from our values, even if it means losing US government funding.
Simon Cooke, CEO of MSI Reproductive Choices, says:
“At MSI, as one of the world’s largest reproductive health providers, we are committed to making sure that everyone, everywhere who needs our services, feels welcome and supported when they walk through our doors. And we refuse to partner with anyone who tries to coerce us into compromising on our values.
“We wholeheartedly reject the Trump administration’s directive to cease all work in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
“Complying would mean failing young people and denying them the care that meets their diverse needs. It would mean stopping services that support people of all gender identities and sexual orientations and failing people with disabilities, who are already marginalized and discriminated against.
“MSI is not willing to work with this United States Government under these conditions. We stand in solidarity with the many communities being damaged by this corrosive administration.”
What’s next for DEI at MSI?
While MSI’s global DEI goals outlined in our strategy provide a solid framework, each country office has developed its own ‘DEI action plan’ to ensure that their initiatives and priorities are appropriate to their own context.
Our DEI strategy is locally-led and locally-driven, so each country’s activities look a little different. It might be sign language training in Zambia, a DEI lens being applied to recruitment practices in Pakistan, or the roll-out of MSI’s ‘women in leadership’ training in Nepal.
Our global DEI panel, established in 2021, tracks our activities in countries around the world. This birds-eye view means we can identify trends and issues, share best practices and ideas across the MSI partnership, and provide guidance where it’s needed.
At a time when the very idea of diversity is being attacked, we’ll continue working to make MSI an inclusive workplace, where team members have the support they need to provide the highest quality service to our clients.
