Bience Gawanas, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Special Advisor to Africa has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Gawanas' appointment is part of changes to IPPF's structure after transforming itself through a year-long reform process. A statement from the IPPF says the changes ensure the global sexual and reproductive health non-government organisation (NGO) can now respond faster to the needs of the women, girls and marginalised people who make up the vast majority of its clients and who are being disproportionality affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In its final meeting, IPPF’s Governing Council agreed on a new governance structure to take its place. It also endorsed a new 15-member board of trustees that will reflect the skills and the diversity IPPF's needs. Two-thirds of the new board are women, and five are young people under 25. The chairperson of the board of trustees is Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2015 to 2019. Gawanas was appointed the UN's Special Advisor to Africa by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 15 January 2018