Final Project Report: Together for Health

At the start of the project, Ukrainian women were more likely to rely on abortion than their European counterparts, while their use of modern contraception was low compared to Western Europe. The project aimed to reduce the number of abortions and unintended pregnancies, as well as the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), by improving the provision of and access to quality reproductive health (RH) services. The project's goal was to increase the use of modern FP methods, particularly among married women, and to reduce the reliance on abortion. The project also aimed to improve the capacity and commitment of the public and private sectors to support policies and systems for improved RH. To achieve these objectives, the project implemented a range of interventions, including training for service providers, improvements in the availability and accessibility of contraceptives, and increased public awareness and education on RH issues. The project's technical approach focused on four key intermediate results: improved service provider skills and behavior related to RH/FP, improved client knowledge, attitudes, and use of appropriate RH/FP services and products, increased availability, accessibility, and affordability of contraceptives, and increased capacity and commitment of the public and private sectors to support policies and systems for improved RH. The project also established a network of FP/RH centers and cabinets in regional and district centers, trained a number of obstetricians and gynecologists, and conducted public education on RH issues. The project's monitoring and evaluation framework was designed to track progress towards the project's objectives and to identify areas for improvement. The framework included a range of indicators, including the use of modern FP methods, the number of abortions, and the incidence of STIs. The project also conducted regular surveys and assessments to monitor the quality of RH services and to identify areas for improvement. The project's compliance with USAID requirements on family planning, abortion, HIV, and environmental considerations was a key aspect of the project's implementation. The project's guidelines on compliance with these requirements were developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and were implemented throughout the project's duration. The project also established a system for monitoring and reporting on compliance with these requirements. The project's lessons learned and recommendations were documented in the project's final report. The report highlighted the importance of strong national leadership and coordination in achieving the project's objectives, as well as the need for sustained donor support and commitment to RH issues. The report also identified areas for improvement, including the need for more effective training and capacity-building programs for service providers and the need for increased public awareness and education on RH issues. The project's impact was significant, with a 27% increase in the use of modern FP methods among married women and a 27% decrease in the number of abortions. The project also contributed to a reduction in the incidence of STIs and an improvement in the quality of RH services. The project's success was due in part to its strong technical approach, its effective monitoring and evaluation framework, and its commitment to compliance with USAID requirements.