Family Planning Compliance Monitoring Plan for Subaward Recipients

Agency for International Development (USAID) requires all projects providing family planning (FP) services to complete a Compliance Monitoring Plan. This plan outlines how the project will prevent legislative violations, monitor project activities, and respond to any potential violations. The plan is a requirement for all USAID funding recipients, including subawards, and must be developed and implemented in accordance with USG policy and host country laws. USAID places a high priority on ensuring that FP/Reproductive Health activities adhere to the principles of voluntarism and informed choice. Voluntarism is defined as a decision based on the exercise of free choice, without any special inducements or elements of force, fraud, deceit, duress, or other forms of coercion or misrepresentation. Informed choice includes effective access to information on FP choices and the counseling, services, and supplies needed to help individuals choose to obtain or decline services. The Tiahrt Amendment, enacted in 1999, sets forth requirements for voluntary FP projects funded by USAID. The amendment reinforces the need for ascertaining and ensuring individual choice and volition when introducing and providing FP services. The Tiahrt Amendment applies to FP activities funded from any USAID account, specifically to FP service delivery projects that receive FP assistance from USAID. In addition to the Tiahrt Amendment, other legislative requirements apply to USAID-funded FP projects. These include the PD-3 Policy, DeConcini Amendment, Livingston Amendment, Helms Amendment, Kemp-Kasten Amendment, Biden Amendment, Siljander Amendment, and Leahy Amendment. These requirements are outlined in Appendix 2 of the document. USAID requires all grantees to review local guidelines at least annually and assess a sample of field sites to ensure compliance with FP regulations. This documentation should remain on file in case of a field audit by USAID. The Compliance Monitoring Plan should include the following sections: Prevention Activities, Monitoring Activities, Response to Possible Violations, and Additional Resources Available. The plan should also include a certification letter for NGOs, which is outlined in Appendix 1. The certification letter is a requirement for all NGOs receiving USAID FP assistance. The letter should be completed by the NGO and submitted to USAID as part of the Compliance Monitoring Plan. Overall, the Compliance Monitoring Plan is a critical component of USAID-funded FP projects. It ensures that projects are implemented in accordance with USG policy and host country laws, and that the principles of voluntarism and informed choice are upheld.