Modeling Synergies between Women-centered Interventions and Family Planning

This paper uses a modeling approach to answer the question: "to what extent can strategies that focus on women and girls benefit health and development outcomes, including child survival, maternal mortality, family planning, and general economic development?"
An empirically-based model was developed that links women-centered program strategies to health and development outcomes. To develop the model statistical relationships were established between key indicators using international cross-section data. Inputs include indicators on women’s education, family planning effort, women’s empowerment and proximate fertility determinants. The human development Index (HDI) was used as a quality of life and development organizing framework for outcomes since it includes education, life expectancy and income per capita. Additional outputs include standard demographic variables as well as child survival and maternal health indicators.
Results from Mali show that women-centered strategies have a positive impact on development and health outcomes. Similarly, family planning strategies have positive effects. When both strategies are implemented simultaneously synergies are realized and the gains