Political Commitment for FamilyPlanning in Rwanda
Presented by Dr. Fidele Ngabo
MCH Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Rwanda
23 March 2010
“High population growth is a major challengefacing Rwanda. Slowing down populationgrowth requires innovative measures,including the strengthening of reproductivehealth services and family planning andensuring free access to information,education and contraceptive services.”
RWANDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & POVERTYREDUCTION STRATEGY, 2008 - 2012
RAPID Model in Rwanda
•RAPID projections of the social and economicconsequences of high fertility and rapidpopulation growth for such sectors as labor,education, health, urbanization and agricultureshared with President, Cabinet, Parliamentarians
•Made clear goals of poverty reduction could notbe reached with high rates of population growth
•Highlighted advantages (access to education,health services) possible with reduced family size
RAPID Model: Key Results forRwanda
2005 (actual)
2035 Projection
Current Fertility
2035 Projection:
Reduced Fertility
Population
8.8 million
21.5 million
16.4 million
Primary SchoolTeachers needed
(1 to 44students)
29,000
76,100
46,400
Doctors
(1 to 10,000persons)
500
2,148
1,068
Food CropRequirements
7.4 millionmetric tons
19.1 millionmetric tons
13.9 millionmetric tons
Per Capita GDP
(8% growth rate)
266 USD
857 USD
1,182 USD
Government of RwandaCommitment and Actions
•Government believes population levels must be addressed totackle poverty
•FP integrated into GoR development strategies: EconomicDevelopment and Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2008-2012; Vision2020; contracts with districts
•National Family Planning Policy
•National Population Policy
•FP integrated into national PBF indicators
•The Rwandan Parliamentarians’ Network for Population andDevelopment (RPRPD) established 2002
•National TWG for FP
•Government funds portion of contraceptive procurement
•Mutuelles de sante increased access to information and services
Multi-Sector and PartnerInvolvement
•Office of the President
•Parliament and Senate
•Office of the Prime Minister
•Ministry of Health
•Ministry of Finance
•Ministry of Local Administration
•Ministry of Education
•Ministry of Gender and Family
•Ministry of Youth
•Ministry of Agriculture
Non-governmental Partners:
•Civil Society Partners
–Profem
–Rwanda Women’sNetwork
–Urunana
–Network of Rwandansliving with HIV
•NGOs
•Development Partners
•UN Agencies
District Level Commitment
•Trainers at district level supporting in-servicetraining in FP
•FP integrated into District performancecontracts, Imihigos: accountability to thePresident for these efforts
•District Mayors and Governors are trained andact as FP Champions
•District Hospitals and Health Centers
Community Level Commitment
•Decentralization – focus on decisions coming from thecommunity and community-level accountability
•Performance contracts (imihigo) from district to sector to cellto umudugudu to household levels
•FP sensitization and education provided to the communitythrough Umuganda (monthly community service days)
•FP Champions in the community
•Health Committees at the Sector level unite communitymembers and health facilities
•Community Health Workers
Political Commitment…The First Step
Commitment is the essential starting point, butit needs to be supported by:
–Advocacy
–Supportive policy
–Resources
–Evidence-based programming
–Continuing supervision
–Training
–Strong monitoring and evaluation