Realising Commitment to Family Planning
Realising Commitment to Family Planning project was designed in 2012-13 to strategically support in-country engagement on commitments made by the Indian Government at the FP2020 Summit in 2012. The overall goal of the project was to achieve increased commitment by policymakers for greater investments in family planning (FP) and improved policies with a focus on the expansion of the basket of contraceptive choices.
The RCFP Phase-I (June 2014 to October 2019) had two key primary goals: a) Increased political support and expenditure on FP for the realisation of India’s FP2020 commitments, and b) An additional birth spacing method in the public health system, with focused efforts on Injectable Contraceptives (MPA). Sustained engagement with elected representatives, media, technical bodies and CSOs in RCFP-I garnered critical support for affirming the centrality of FP for sustainable development with a focus on young people.
The RCFP Phase-II (November 2019 to April 2026) is building on the accomplishments of the previous five years, and aims to sustain strategic engagement focusing on mobilising support from stakeholders and thought leaders on increasing access to choice-based, quality FP services. The project is anchored to achieve the primary outcome of increased commitment by key stakeholders in line with Government of India’s commitments (FP2030 and SDGs).
Key highlights
- Population Foundation of India created the Strategic Engagement Handbook – A Guide to Effectively Engage Key Stakeholders to Prioritise Family Planning (available in English and Hindi). Sharing four decades of experiences and learnings, the Handbook offers a step-by-step guide for strategic engagement on family planning, applicable to other areas as well.
- As India became the world’s most populous country, Population Foundation of India developed knowledge products, factoids, and briefs drawing on lessons from the Indian experience relevant to other countries with high population growth. These documents address the gender-based digital divide, the financial inclusion of women, the ageing population, and climate change. These knowledge products highlighted the importance of including population issues in the G20 agenda and were shared with relevant stakeholders, including the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), international donors, and the G20 Secretariat.
- To effectively engage Parliamentarians and stakeholders on critical population issues, Population Foundation of India, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India, developed three strategic engagement knowledge products: India’s Population Growth and Policy Implications; The Sexual & Reproductive Health Status of Young People in India; and Men’s Participation for Better Family Planning & Reproductive Health Outcomes. These evidence-based briefs have been crucial in sensitising elected representatives, media, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders on family planning, sexual and reproductive health, and gender equality, shaping positive policy narratives.
- Population Foundation of India has provided responsive support to corporates through capacity-building programmes and training for
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) teams on FP/SRH, menstrual hygiene management, and gender. - In 2016, the MoHFW announced the introduction of three spacing methods in the public sector – Injectable Contraceptive (MPA/Antara), Progestin Only Pills, and Centchroman. This introduction marked a paradigm shift in the government’s focus towards aligning the FP programme with the FP2020 goals.
- Highlighted the need for enhanced quality of care in family planning through the fact-finding report on sterilisation deaths in Bilaspur in 2014. The result was a landmark Supreme Court judgement delivered by Justice Shri M B Lokur for discontinuation of sterilisation camps and introducing fixed day services (FDS).
- Increased public statements by Members of Parliament on issues related to family planning. Substantive increase in parliamentary activities such as parliamentary questions (PQ) on family planning and allied issues, special mentions and presentations at parliamentary standing committees (Empowerment of Women; Health & Family Welfare).
- Brought to attention the low level of expenditure on FP, both at the state level (Bihar and UP) as well as at the national level through the dissemination of reports commissioned by Population Foundation of India, and sustained conversations on and dissemination of FP budget analysis.
- Increased media understanding of and coverage on the importance of FP for development in mainstream media. Population Foundation of India is recognised as a reliable expert by national and international media on issues related to family planning, reproductive health, women’s rights, and gender.
- Developed and disseminated evidence pieces across a range of stakeholders and thought leaders—policy briefs, technical papers, white papers, study reports etc.
