How-to Guide: Integrating Family Planning Interventions into District Implementation Plans in Malawi

The CIP aims to achieve a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 60 percent for all women by 2020, with a focus on reaching youth. To operationalize the CIP at the district level, the Government of Malawi is working to ensure that district decisionmakers are informed about and understand the CIP and have the capacity and political will to integrate CIP objectives and activities into local plans. The district development plan (DDP) is a key document that outlines the district's priorities and budget for the upcoming year. The DDP is submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development by the district council. The district health implementation plan (DHIP) is a critical component of the DDP, outlining the district's health priorities and budget for the upcoming year. The DHIP is developed in consultation with the district health management team (DHMT) and other stakeholders. The Health Policy Plus (HP+) project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has supported the Reproductive Health Directorate (RHD) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to facilitate CIP implementation at the district level. Between 2016 and 2019, HP+ supported the integration of priority CIP activities into district implementation plans (DIPs). The project worked closely with district councils, health officials, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of national objectives and strategies and empower them to develop district-level plans based on the CIP. The integration of family planning interventions into district implementation plans requires a multi-stakeholder approach. The district executive committee (DEC) plays a critical role in overseeing the implementation of the DIP, including the integration of family planning activities. The DEC is responsible for ensuring that the district health management team (DHMT) has the necessary resources and capacity to implement the DIP. The DHMT, in turn, is responsible for developing and implementing the district health implementation plan (DHIP), which outlines the district's health priorities and budget for the upcoming year. The district health implementation plan (DHIP) is a critical component of the district development plan (DDP). The DHIP outlines the district's health priorities and budget for the upcoming year, including the integration of family planning activities. The DHIP is developed in consultation with the district health management team (DHMT) and other stakeholders, including the district executive committee (DEC) and the reproductive health directorate (RHD) of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The integration of family planning interventions into district implementation plans in Malawi requires a sustained effort to increase awareness and understanding of national objectives and strategies among district decisionmakers. The Health Policy Plus (HP+) project has played a critical role in supporting the integration of priority CIP activities into district implementation plans (DIPs) between 2016 and 2019. The project's work has helped to increase awareness and understanding of national objectives and strategies among district decisionmakers, empowering them to develop district-level plans based on the CIP.