Semi-Annual Progress Report: October 2014 – March 2015

However, due to the March 2012 coup d'état, the project relocated to Benin in September 2012. The project was initially funded by USAID and aimed to test new ways to address unmet need for family planning through social networks. The project's effectiveness study, conducted in two Health Zones in Couffo Department, showed that the social network package was effective in increasing discussions on family planning, women and men sharing their experiences, and seeking family planning information. Preliminary results indicated that normative change was occurring, measured by increased perception that people in one's social networks approve of family planning. However, the study also revealed that coverage and exposure to the project were not as large as expected, with radio broadcasts reaching only half of the communities, and reflective dialogue stories known by 20-30% of men and women, respectively. Women's and men's participation in TJ-supported groups was 8% and 20%, respectively. Most change was seen in those directly exposed to TJ, and community-level increases in family planning discussions were observed, although not enough community-wide exposure resulted in other changes at the community level. The baseline-endline comparison showed increased use of modern family planning and decreased unmet need, with further analysis needed to confirm these findings once controlled for confounding variables. The project staff, MOH, and new counterpart staff determined adjustments needed to the package prior to scale-up, including increasing coverage and exposure to achieve community-level impact. The project management and coordination team, led by the Project Coordinator, Mme Bintou Chabi-Gado, held regular meetings with the Partners Advisory Group (PAG) to discuss current and following-month activities, manage and achieve activities set out in the annual work plan, and review and finalize the draft Operations Manual. The PAG-USA meetings were held monthly via Skype to discuss strategy, shifting roles and responsibilities, and critical decisions on project deliverables. The project also conducted a TOT (training of trainers) for TJ field staff and a review of the preliminary findings of the effectiveness study, which led to adjustments being made to the package components to improve acceptability in use and effectiveness. The study indicated that more community exposure was needed to achieve normative change, and thus, a key process change was made to adjust the number of influential groups and people with whom to work, depending on the size of village. The project is now poised to work with new counterparts to test how well the project works under new conditions, with new challenges, new learning, and further consolidation of the social network package expected. The project's revised package will be integrated into and tested under new conditions by four development projects via a new set of actors beginning in April 2015.