FHI 360

FHI 360 is a global nonprofit organization headquartered in North Carolina and formerly known as Family Health International. Established in 1971, it developed from a family-health and public-health organization into a broad international development institution whose work combines research, technical assistance, program implementation, training, and policy support. The organization operates in more than 60 countries as well as across all U.S. states and territories. The organization’s work has included reproductive and family health, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, malaria, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, nutrition, education, youth development, environmental issues, economic development, civil society, research, and technology. Its programs frequently address the social and economic conditions that affect health, including poverty, underemployment, financial insecurity, and limited access to services. Rather than selling consumer products, FHI 360 delivers donor-funded and partner-supported programs, research initiatives, and technical services to governments, communities, health systems, universities, foundations, and private-sector organizations. FHI 360 became particularly associated with the global HIV/AIDS response. In 1986, Family Health International began a worldwide HIV/AIDS response, later contributing to prevention research, program design, and implementation in multiple regions. Its role in the CAPRISA 004 clinical trial was linked to evidence that a vaginal gel containing tenofovir could reduce women’s risk of acquiring HIV and genital herpes, representing an important development in HIV-prevention research. The organization broadened its public identity in 2010, when Family Health International simplified its name to FHI to reflect work extending beyond family health. In 2011, FHI combined with the Academy for Educational Development, creating FHI 360. The name signaled an integrated approach to health and development and the organization’s expanded expertise in education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, civil society, research, and technology. FHI 360 has received support and collaboration from governments, multilateral and philanthropic institutions, research organizations, and private companies. Partners and sponsors identified in reference material include the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GE, and Johnson & Johnson. Its activities have also included tobacco-control initiatives in Vietnam, such as the Click No-smoking initiative, implemented with Vietnamese youth and national tobacco-control bodies. Today, FHI 360 is best understood as an international nonprofit development and technical-services organization rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its positioning rests on combining scientific research, public-health expertise, education, implementation capacity, and locally oriented partnerships to address complex health and development problems.

Family Health International was established in 1971 in the United States and initially developed around family-health and public-health concerns. Over time, its activities expanded from a relatively focused health remit into international research, technical assistance, and development programming. The organization worked with public agencies, foundations, research institutions, and private-sector partners to design and implement programs in settings where health outcomes were closely connected to education, poverty, employment, social conditions, and institutional capacity. A major turning point came in 1986, when Family Health International began a worldwide response to HIV/AIDS. This work placed the organization within the expanding international HIV-prevention and treatment community. Its activities included research, program implementation, technical support, and collaboration with governments and other health organizations. HIV/AIDS remained one of the organization’s most visible areas, alongside work on malaria, tuberculosis, reproductive health, and other infectious and chronic diseases. Family Health International also participated in clinical and public-health research. Its contribution to the CAPRISA 004 trial was associated with an important HIV-prevention finding: a vaginal gel containing tenofovir showed an ability to reduce women’s risk of HIV infection and genital-herpes infection. The trial represented the broader role the organization sought to play by linking scientific evidence with practical global-health programming. The organization’s scope continued to broaden during the 2000s. Its portfolio came to include education, nutrition, environmental issues, economic development, youth, civil society, technology, and research capacity. In 2009, Peter Lamptey, identified in reference material as the organization’s president for Public Health Programs, joined the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy. The commission brought together figures from government, business, academia, media, security, foreign policy, and global health to consider priorities for U.S. international-health policy. Its final report, A Healthier, Safer, and More Prosperous World, was released in March 2010. In 2010, Family Health International changed its public identity to FHI, reflecting the organization’s move beyond a narrowly family-health-focused description. In 2011, FHI and the Academy for Educational Development came together to form FHI 360. The combination added or strengthened expertise in education and other development disciplines while preserving the organization’s health and research capabilities. The “360” identity communicated an integrated approach to complex development challenges and service to families, communities, and nations. FHI 360 subsequently operated in more than 60 countries and throughout all U.S. states and territories. Its work has been supported by governments, foundations, multilateral initiatives, research bodies, and private companies. Named supporters and partners include the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GE, and Johnson & Johnson. Its country-level work has included Vietnam, where Family Health International worked with the Vietnam Youth Union and the Vietnam National Committee on Smoking and Health on the Click No-smoking initiative. The program used public-health communication and youth engagement to address cigarette smoking. FHI 360’s later identity therefore represents an organization whose history moved from family health into a multidisciplinary model combining health science, education, economic development, community engagement, and implementation support.

• 2011

  FHI 360 is formed

  [1]FHI 360en.wikipedia.org

  FHI and the Academy for Educational Development come together to create FHI 360.

• 2010

  The organization adopts the FHI identity

  [1]FHI 360en.wikipedia.org

  Family Health International simplifies its name to FHI to reflect a broader health-and-development mandate.

• 2009

  Peter Lamptey joins the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy

  [1]FHI 360en.wikipedia.org

  Peter Lamptey, described as the organization’s president for Public Health Programs, is named to the commission examining priorities for U.S. global-health policy.

• 1986

  Global HIV/AIDS response begins

  [1]FHI 360en.wikipedia.org

  Family Health International begins a worldwide response to HIV/AIDS, which becomes a major part of its international health work.

• 1971

  Family Health International is established

  [1]FHI 360en.wikipedia.org

  The organization is established in the United States, initially focusing on family-health and public-health concerns.

A science- and implementation-oriented global nonprofit that integrates health, education, research, and economic-development expertise to improve outcomes for communities and institutions.

• Global health services · 1986

  HIV/AIDS programs

  FHI 360’s HIV/AIDS portfolio includes research, prevention, technical assistance, and implementation support. The organization began its worldwide HIV/AIDS response in 1986 and later participated in programs and studies intended to improve prevention and health-system responses in different countries.

• Clinical research

  CAPRISA 004 contribution

  FHI 360 contributed to CAPRISA 004, a clinical trial evaluating a vaginal tenofovir gel. The study produced evidence that the intervention could lower women’s risk of acquiring HIV and genital herpes, making it a notable example of the organization’s research role.

• International development services

  Health and development technical assistance

  The organization provides research, training, implementation, and technical assistance across health and development fields. Its work has covered malaria, tuberculosis, reproductive health, chronic disease, nutrition, education, youth, environment, economic development, civil society, and technology.

• Tobacco control

  Click No-smoking initiative

  This Vietnam initiative used public-health communication and youth engagement to discourage cigarette smoking. It was implemented by Family Health International with the Vietnam Youth Union and the Vietnam National Committee on Smoking and Health.

• Click No-smoking

  Vietnam

  A tobacco-control initiative implemented with the Vietnam Youth Union and the Vietnam National Committee on Smoking and Health. The campaign focused on reducing cigarette smoking through youth-oriented public-health communication.

  Source

• 2011

  Combination with the Academy for Educational DevelopmentM&A

  Background

  FHI sought to integrate a wider range of health, education, and development capabilities.

  Action taken

  FHI and the Academy for Educational Development came together to form FHI 360.

  Aftermath

  FHI 360 emerged as a multidisciplinary organization working across health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, civil society, research, and technology.

  Source

• 2010

  Broadening the organizational identity from Family Health International to FHIStrategy

  Background

  The organization’s activities had expanded beyond family health into wider health and development fields.

  Action taken

  Family Health International simplified its public name to FHI.

  Aftermath

  The change prepared the organization for a broader identity and preceded its combination with the Academy for Educational Development in 2011.

  Source

1. 1FHI 360en.wikipedia.org
2. 2FHI 360 official websitefhi360.org