West Africa reporter Monika Pronczuk and U.S.-based philanthropy reporter Thalia Beaty spent months investigating how U.S. anti-abortion groups are expanding their influence in Africa as Trump administration policies provide new momentum to their efforts — and what that means for women’s health, reproductive rights and healthcare policy. The reporters examined financial records and policy documents and interviewed dozens of activists, healthcare workers, religious leaders, officials and women. They looked at how money, ideology and politics cross borders, and how decisions made in Washington, which this year cut funding for organizations that work on abortion-related issues overseas, are felt thousands of miles away. Pronczuk and senior producer Annie Risemberg traveled to rural Kenya to meet people living with the consequences. The all-formats initiative showed the growing reach of U.S. anti-abortion groups at a time of major change in U.S. foreign aid under the Trump administration and in Africa, where healthcare systems are already under immense strain. The outcome was a nuanced and detailed piece with a graphic, photos and video that were widely used by AP clients and generated conversations online about the reach and impact of the anti-abortion groups.
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