Our story

Our story starts with three reproductive health pioneers: Tim Black CBE, Jean Black and Phil Harvey. Tim realised the transformational power of reproductive healthcare during his extensive medical studies and by delivering healthcare first-hand in places like New Guinea. Tim and Phil met during their master’s degree, found this shared passion, and set their sights on bringing reproductive choice to the world.

Upon his return to London, Tim learnt that the historic central London building that held the Marie Stopes Mothers’ Clinic was closing. This clinic opened in 1925 — facing opposition from a male-dominated medical workforce and the Catholic church — to offer women advice and contraception. Tim, with his wife Jean and friend Phil, bought the building lease in 1976 and started the organisation we are today.

Our founders chose to recognise the origins of that first clinic, while setting their sights on expanding this life-saving healthcare internationally: they called the organisation Marie Stopes International (we would later become MSI Reproductive Choices).

From the UK to Uganda, MSI has always stood out from the crowd by being a ‘social business’, using a hybrid operating model that draws inspiration from both the non-profit and commercial worlds. We have evolved over time as we’ve gained expertise and data, and listened to our frontline teams and clients, allowing us to iterate our services and achieve the greatest impact.

Among the first countries to set up MSI programmes responding to their local needs and challenges were Sri Lanka in 1983 and Kenya in 1986. Reproductive healthcare pioneers around the globe followed suit, including Dr Mohsina Bilgrami in Pakistan (who continues to serve MSI as a Board member to this day). In 1991, she set up an MSI programme from the guest room of her house — expanding over time to serve millions. Today, MSI is made up of almost 9,000 team members who are rooted in the communities they serve, from major cities to rural villages.

Since 1976, we’ve expanded to 36 countries across six continents. Funding partnerships and investment have enabled our reach to grow dramatically, and with it, the number of women we’ve reached with these life-changing services. Over 200 million people have been supported by MSI with the choices that are right for them and their futures.

From 1976 to 2020, we were known as Marie Stopes International. Today, the legacy of the woman Marie Stopes is entangled with her views on eugenics: opinions which are in stark contrast to our values and principles. So, in 2020, we changed our name to MSI Reproductive Choices to reflect our fundamental focus on choice.

Diversity, equality and inclusion have made MSI stronger, and have become a central part of our strategy and culture. We have committed to a bespoke DEI strategy with key metrics, and introduced a panel to keep us accountable. With women making up 46% of our leadership and over 95% of our programmes led by people from the same nation or region, we’re making great strides already.

With almost 50 years of experience, data and expertise behind us in reaching people with reproductive healthcare, we’re well-placed to partner with governments to strengthen health systems. By providing training, support and quality assurance to the public sector through these partnerships, we’re supporting countries to build quality reproductive healthcare and make sure they’re available for the long-term. And by working hand-in-hand with local, grassroots partners, we help build a wider eco-system that supports reproductive choice.

MSI Reproductive Choices now works across 36 countries serving over 94,000 women and girls every day with contraception, abortion, and post-abortion care. Our role today is to continue leading the way in expanding access to these services, so everyone is free to make decisions about their body, health and future.

By 2030, no abortion will be unsafe and every individual who wants access to contraception will have it. That’s the vision. And we’re committed to making it happen.