Common Advocacy Plan for Expanding Contraceptive Choice in India

The task force was supported by the Health Policy Project (HPP), which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The plan was developed through a two-day residential strategic planning workshop, where participants applied the Spitfire SMART CHART Communications Tools to make family planning advocacy more strategic and locally owned. The common advocacy plan aims to expand contraceptive choice in India by increasing methods of spacing and increasing access to current methods of spacing. The plan is based on the application of the Spitfire SMART CHART Communications Tools, which were developed by the Communications Leadership Institute. The tools are used by various institutions to make family planning advocacy more strategic and locally owned. The plan has several objectives, including increasing the number of methods of spacing available to individuals and couples, and increasing access to current methods of spacing. The plan also aims to increase the use of spacing methods and reduce the total fertility rate (TFR) in India. The ARC National Task Force on Expanding Contraceptive Choices has identified several key strategies to achieve these objectives, including increasing funding for family planning under the Twelfth Five Year Plan, and promoting the use of spacing methods through a vibrant coalition of civil society organisations. The plan also emphasizes the importance of increasing access to current methods of spacing, including depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs), and the progestogen-only pill (POP). The plan aims to increase the availability of these methods through public-private partnerships and programme implementation plans (PIPs). The plan also emphasizes the importance of increasing the use of spacing methods among marginalized populations, including women-headed households and rural communities. The ARC National Task Force on Expanding Contraceptive Choices has identified several key stakeholders who will be involved in implementing the plan, including the Government of India, civil society organisations, and private sector partners. The plan also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The common advocacy plan is a key step towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5, which aims to improve maternal health. The plan is also aligned with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme in India. The plan is expected to contribute to a significant reduction in the total fertility rate in India and improve maternal health outcomes. The plan has been developed through a collaborative effort between the ARC National Task Force on Expanding Contraceptive Choices, the Health Policy Project, and other stakeholders. The plan is expected to be implemented over the next several years, with regular monitoring and evaluation to track progress. The plan is a key step towards achieving the government's commitment to expand contraceptive choice in India and improve maternal health outcomes.