Quarterly Report: June to September 2016 - Integrated Family Planning Program

The program aims to increase access to a wide range of modern contraceptive methods and quality family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) services, increase demand for modern contraceptive methods and quality FP/RH services, and strengthen FP/RH health systems. The project goal supports the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) and Ministry of Health (MISAU) priorities related to improving the health of Mozambicans by increasing access to and use of voluntary family planning and contraceptive methods. The project will implement an overarching strategy that applies a judicious mix of high impact practices coupled with local innovations to bolster FP and RH service delivery, demand generation, and health systems. Key activities implemented during the reporting period include the signature of pre-sub-agreements and other official documents, financial, administrative, personnel, and grants management systems, comprehensive logistics for office space and procurement of vehicles and equipment, including IT facilities at Nampula province, interaction with US-based and local partners and with USAID/Mozambique, and the development of IFPP Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The project-wide Year 1 workplanning workshop, including team-building and integrated strategy refinement with all consortium members, was also conducted. The project will increase access to a wide range of modern contraceptives and quality facility- and community-based FP/RH services by expanding the method mix, strengthening adolescent-friendly services, supporting strategic integration of FP services into HIV platforms and maternal and child health services, expanding community-based contraceptive service provision, improving referral mechanisms, and integration of community and health systems. The project is led by Pathfinder International with a team of global and local partners—N’weti, Population Services International (PSI), and Abt Associates. The project has a total funding of $34,560,000.00 and will be implemented over a period of five years, starting from June 2016. The geographic focus of the project is Nampula and Sofala provinces, and the project aims to increase the use of modern contraceptive methods by target populations in these provinces. The project will also strengthen FP/RH health systems and support the GRM and MISAU priorities related to improving the health of Mozambicans. The project has made significant progress in the first quarter, including the signature of pre-sub-agreements and other official documents, the development of IFPP Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and the conduct of the project-wide Year 1 workplanning workshop. The project is now preparing for the launch of the project in October, which will include visits to districts, mapping and meetings with community stakeholders, staff recruitment, and the launching of the project.