Dear Friend of DKT,
DKT brings new products to markets. This month saw the first-ever sale of DKT IUDs in Argentina, and news of the first patients to have received Levoplant, a low-cost hormonal contraceptive implant, in the Philippines. Such efforts increase access and affordability – and grow markets.
But a product launch involves more than just importation and distribution. We train providers on their use and educate consumers on their benefits. Our behavior change efforts leverage both mass media as well as interactive marketing engagement that enables consumers to understand their options.
Our report below provides examples of this kind of work across multiple countries.
We are also proud to announce that nominations are open for the Phil Harvey SRHR Innovation Award, which will be presented at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2025. If you or someone you know is pushing boundaries to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), we encourage you to apply or nominate a peer by August 8th here.
Cheers,
Chris Purdy
PS – please check out our updated website. We’d love to hear what you think.
Our new website is live!
We are proud to share with you our newly updated website. Apart from a major graphic redesign, we’ve added new pages and features to give you a more in-depth look at DKT and the work we do.
These new pages include a comprehensive “Insights and News” section, where you can read recent articles, newsletters, case studies, and more from DKT staff, along with DKT content dating back decades, an interactive map in the “Where We Are” section, where you can explore all of DKT’s country programs, a new “Products” section, with an illustrative view of some of DKT’s biggest and best brands, and much more!
New products, new places: Expanding DKT’s global impact
We are proud to report that in May, the Peru team of DKT South America made the first sales of a number of products, including a new oral contraceptive pill, Dienogest pill, COC Nadine (Ethinylestradiol + Drospirenone), and Taylafem (Dienogest 2mg). DKT South America also made the first-ever IUD sale in Argentina, kicking off a partnership with distributor Pharmatec.
DKT teams in Cameroon expanded Depofem, a self-injecting contraceptive (DMPA-SC), into pharmacies and family planning centers. Product innovation, such as self-injecting contraceptives, is a crucial part of DKT’s mission to expand the number of contraception options available, and ensure the evolving needs of consumers are met. Sexual and reproductive health is not a “one size fits all”, and DMPA-SC allows for flexibility and privacy, as clients can self-administer the contraceptive in the comfort of their own home.
In the Philippines, DKT and WomanCare introduced Levoplant to women at a Safe Motherhood Month celebration, discussing the benefits of the contraceptive in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. A total of 24 women were served as the first clients to receive Levoplant in the Philippines. The clients included both first-time implant users and those who opted to have their previous implants removed and replaced with the two-rod Levoplant system.
Doing what we do best– big and bold marketing!
DKT is known for our eye-catching, fun, stigma-busting advertisements and marketing campaigns. We use marketing and behavior change campaigns to push the agenda forward with fun and thoughtful programming that brings positive change. From traditional media, such as billboards and newspaper ads, to mass media, such as YouTube videos and radio ads, DKT teams have been busy making creative advertising campaigns.
In the Philippines, DKT teams launched two ad blitzes, one for EZ Lubricating Jelly and one for TRUST condoms. The EZ Lubricating Jelly ad blitz, titled “EZ Lang!” displays a lubed-up character staying effortlessly cool in life’s “stickiest” situations like being stuck in rush hour, crammed in awkward spaces, or facing daily mishap, showing that no matter how tight things get, it can be EZ with EZ lube (“dapat EZ lang with EZ lube”). These ads were displayed on billboards on major roads, train cars, and train stations. The EZ lang campaign wrapped up with beach activations that included the “EZ Slip & Slide” in the shape of an EZ sachet.
The TRUST Condoms ad blitz shows a man in a condom-shaped raincoat, with the words “Ang sikat na kapote ni jun-jun” above him. In Filipino street slang, “kapote” (raincoat) is a common euphemism for a condom, and “Jun-jun” is a widely used nickname for the penis. This concept plays on familiar, everyday language to make condom use feel natural, relatable, and even humorous. Advertisements were run in newspapers, on billboards on major streets, and in train stations.
DKT teams have also released great marketing campaigns in Mexico, Mozambique, and India.
DKT International Announces 2025 Phil Harvey Innovation Award
DKT International is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Phil Harvey SRHR Innovation Award, which will be presented at the ICFP in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2025.
Funded by DKT in honor of its late founder Phil Harvey—a pioneer of rights-based, private-sector-driven approaches to family planning—the award supports the next generation of leaders advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
The award offers:
- A grant of up to $10,000 USD to implement a bold SRHR innovation
- Full travel support to attend ICFP 2025 and present their project on a global stage
Eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be 18–35 years old
- Based in a low- or middle-income country
- Proposing a project that is inclusive and targets underrepresented populations
If you or someone you know is pushing boundaries to improve SRHR access—especially through private sector innovation—we encourage you to apply or nominate a peer.
Deadline: 8 August 2025 at 11:59 PM ET
Let’s honor Phil Harvey’s legacy by supporting the changemakers redefining what’s possible in SRHR.
