What Underlies State Government Performance in Scaling Family Planning Programming? A Study of The Challenge Initiative State Partnerships in Nigeria

Abstract

Strong external champions-both traditional and religious leaders but also media-savvy policy advocates-were a key component of a successful scaling experience by building public understanding and support for FP use and holding government leaders accountable for its provision. n Skilled and empowered state program officers, with support from internal government champions at the highest political but also agency leadership levels, spearheaded the introduction and implementation of the interventions and guided the institutionalization of interventions through existing state mechanisms.

The Challenge Initiative: Lessons on Rapid Scale-Up of Family Planning and Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

“…Ishola et al 13 describe a mixed-methods comparative case study to determine facilitators and barriers to subnational (state-level) adoption, implementation, and scale-up of high-impact FP/AYSRH interventions. The authors found that among 3 Nigerian states that had received substantive coaching support and financial investment, 2 states were higher performing and one lower performing, as determined by growth in FP client service volume over 24 months of implementation.…”