Framework for economic analysis of family planning projects : a case study of the planned Niger family health and demography project

Using the Family Health and Demography Project in Niger as an example, this study presents a new methodology for the cost-benefit analysis of FP projects which estimates the costs and benefits, cost-effectiveness, recurrent costs, and cost-recovery possibilities of a project. The study concludes that the Niger project is likely to have a favorable effect on the growth of per capita gross domestic product, which will be about 3.8% higher after 15 years of FP activities. In addition, the FP activities are likely to produce budgetary savings in certain sectors, such as education, health care, urban services, and housing, and to contribute to self-sufficiency in agriculture. The project should generate 420,105 couple years of contraceptive protection at a cost of about $22 per couple year, and by the end of the 5-year project period recurrent costs should not exceed $900,000. On the other hand, cost-recovery measures, such as charging fees for visits to FP clinics, probably are not advisable.