Tanzania"s national family planning program : factors for success

The success factors were as follows. (1) Demand for FP was much higher than anticipated. Total demand for FP was 41%, vs. only 6.6% of currently married women practicing a modern FP method. (2) Improvements were made in the service delivery system. The Government of Tanzania (GOT) worked with USAID and UNFPA to coordinate the ordering of contraceptives, fulfill demand with the right quantities, store them properly, and transport them to clinics in a timely fashion. In addition, USAID worked with UNFPA to provide intensive, high-quality training programs to contraceptive providers to increase the availability of methods (especially permanent and long-term methods) and improve the quality of services. (3) Financial resources for the project were adequate and inputs such as contraceptives, training, equipment, and management support were provided simultaneously. (4) The GOT signaled its policy support by designing a national population strategy and a 5-year plan of operations and by creating the NFPP itself, making government and NGOs full partners in expanding FP service provision, with a special role assigned to UMATI, the local affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. (5) In Tanzania, USAID, as the primary donor in terms of both funding and TA, has taken a lead role with donor coordination to ensure that there is a stronger, more concerted effort in support of the NFPP. In addition, USAID staff have played a key role in negotiating GOT acceptance of outside TA. The NFPP is still at an early stage. If government and donor commitment can continue for at least another 5 years, Tanzania will have an exemplary FP program that meets the needs of its people. Appendix includes a slide presentation of the various success factors.