Population Services International

Population Services International (PSI) is a

In 1969, Harvey and Tim Black met while working towards Master's degrees in family planning and population dynamics at the University of North Carolina.[5] While still graduate students, they and Jean Black co-founded a retail and mail-order business called Adam and Eve, selling condoms and sex aids in the United States and internationally in order to use the profits to finance family-planning programs in developing countries. Upon completion of their degrees, they co-founded PSI as a charitable not-for-profit organization, using revenue from Adam and Eve to fund the organization.  

Harvey and Tim and Jean Black were the original directors of PSI, with Harvey serving as executive director from 1970 to 1977. Harvey remained on the PSI Board until 2003. While serving as PSI directors, Tim and Jean Black moved to Kenya from 1970-74 to set up a PSI-run Contraceptive Social Marketing

In 1971, the PSI Board was expanded through the addition of Dr. Geoffrey Davis,^[8] an Australian physician affiliated with the International Abortion Research and Training Centre in London.^[9] In the 1960s, Davis operated two clinics in the Sydney suburbs of Potts Point and Arncliffe, where he carried out discreet pregnancy terminations until the 1971 legalization in New South Wales of abortion in cases where pregnancy puts a woman's life or physical or mental health at risk.^[10]

In 1974, PSI began experiencing significant international growth, with Davis being named Project Director for PSI Southeast Asia and Oceania,

Also in 1974, Tim and Jean Black, newly returned from Kenya to London, set up a European branch of PSI called Population Services Family Planning Programme Ltd, which by 1976 had taken over the bankrupt Marie Stopes Foundation, renaming it as Marie Stopes International[12] (now MSI Reproductive Choices). Marie Stopes International/MSI Reproductive Services directors included PSI founder Tim Black until 2014 and Phil Harvey until 2021.^[12]

Programs

Today, PSI's world headquarters are in

PSI works with celebrity ambassadors to raise awareness about the organization's work. Ambassadors have joined PSI staff on international trips to gain a better understanding of PSI's work, testified before Congress to promote increased funding of global health programs, and taken part in many conferences and forums to enhance PSI's visibility. As of 2017, PSI has three celebrity ambassadors: Ashley Judd, Mandy Moore, and Debra Messing.^[14]

External reviews

PSI is one of a select group of charities endorsed by noted philosopher and Princeton Professor Peter Singer as Highly Effective in the fight against extreme poverty.^{[citation needed]}

Charity evaluator GiveWell first reviewed PSI in 2007,^[15] again in 2009^[16] and then again in 2011.^[17] Initially, GiveWell recommended PSI as one of its top charities.^[18] However, in its most recent review, GiveWell states that "The evidence we have seen does not clearly show that PSI has the impact it intends" while at the same time praising PSI for "(a) focusing on programs with proven impact and (b) monitoring whether these programs are implemented effectively."

In 2007 and 2008 PSI was highlighted by Fast Company^[19] as a Top Social Capitalist, noting the organization's private sector partnerships with Procter & Gamble and others.

References