Standard Days Method Scale Up in Rwanda: Interviews with Key Actors

The project's dual purpose was achieved through the use of the ExpandNet Model, a strategic planning framework for scaling up reproductive health innovations. This model guided the actions and decisions needed to secure institutionalization and geographic expansion of the SDM method. The project's implementation coincided with a dynamic period in Rwanda, where the government prioritized population issues, including slowing rapid population growth to increase economic and social stability. The government backed a strong family planning (FP) policy and program throughout the country. IRH's FAM Project and the preceding AWARENESS Project aimed to capitalize on this momentum and increase access to the SDM method. Key actors involved in the project included the Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and other stakeholders. IRH used a systems-oriented approach to scale up the SDM method, focusing on institutionalization and geographic expansion. The project's success was measured through the degree of SDM integration into the health structure, provider attitudes, and geographic differences in scale up. The project's methodology involved conducting interviews with key actors to understand their perspectives on scale up and the SDM method. The interviews were guided by a tool that explored the respondents' understanding of scale up, the process and principles involved, and the degree of SDM scale up. The results of the interviews provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by the project. The interviews revealed that the respondents understood scale up to be a process of increasing the availability and use of the SDM method within a broad range of service delivery programs. The indicators of successful scale up included the degree of institutionalization, provider attitudes, and geographic expansion. The respondents also highlighted the importance of external factors, such as government support and community engagement, in facilitating the scale up of the SDM method. The project's results showed that the SDM method had been fully integrated into the health structure in some areas, while others faced challenges in terms of provider attitudes and geographic expansion. The respondents identified the advantages of the SDM method, including its ease of use and high effectiveness, as well as its disadvantages, such as the need for provider training and the potential for user error. The next steps for the project included continuing to build on the momentum gained and addressing the challenges faced by the project. The respondents recommended that the project focus on strengthening provider training and community engagement, as well as improving the logistics and supply chain management of the SDM method. The project's success would depend on the ability to overcome these challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability of the SDM method in Rwanda.