Assessing efforts to reposition family planning in Francophone West Africa: methodology and common findings in eight countries

In response to demographic challenges and shifting public health priorities, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, aided by international donors, have attempted in recent years to reposition family planning (RFP). However, the lack of a tool to assess progress has hindered their efforts. Recognizing this need, Futures Group participated in a collaborative project to develop a framework of indicators that assess change in the RFP environment. Since September 2011, Futures Group has applied the framework in eight countries in Francophone West Africa and is currently drafting individual country reports to describe the status of RFP as measured by these indicators. This paper outlines the process Futures Group used in the countries to gain acceptance of the framework: identifying key stakeholders from government, technical, and financial groups; nongovernmental organizations; and civil society and tapping their expertise through meetings and interviews. Countries are now able to assess progress toward RFP and have begun to see the need to incorporate policy indicators in their health information systems. The initiative suggests that the countries face similar challenges and can draw on some common actions to reposition family planning in order to meet women’s unmet need for safe, effective, modern contraception.