FAMILY PLANNING AND SAVINGS PROGRAMS:

Experience of Rwanda

FP conference in DakarPresented by Agnes Mukamana

SAFI: Economic Security and Development

Impact group Vulnerable poor women

Program GoalBy 2015, 750,000 extremely poor people, particularly women and girls

(at least 70%), will have achieved economic security, exercise their rights to health, education and influence decision-making at all levels.

VSL methodology

A group of 15-25 people who save together and take small loans from those savings. The activities of the VSLA run in ‘cycles’ of about one year, after which the accumulated savings and the loan profits are shared out among the members according to the amount they have saved.

Result Initiative

• Work with partners to establish auxiliary FP posts • Strength FP outreach services• Work with religious leaders to raise awareness and

acceptance of FP • Training of Change Agent, anti-GBV committees and peer

educators to increase their capacity to challenge social norms and practices

• Involvement of men’s support groups in discussions on Gender and power relations at household level

• Conduct staff reflection sessions to stimulate personal transformation and change

Justification of integrationIn the Mid Term Review, SAFI project has completed Gender Gaps Analysis: several challenges were raised that could be improved through the integration of gender, GBV and family planning activities. The findings showed that woman’s economic empowerment alone is not enough to ensure wellbeing at the household level. Challenges related to gender issues, power dynamics and communication at the household level need be taken into account in tandem for sustainable economic empowerment.

Piloting the Integration (SAFI/RI)

•Location: Gatsibo district, Eastern Province

•Target: VSL was used as an entry point in order to increase women’s access to economic opportunities. •Integration: FP, GBV and HIV among poor women

•Methodology: Social Analysis and Action methodology

Mutual benefitsRI is designed to

increase the use of FP by concurrently addressing health system strengthening and the social and cultural determinants of health

SAFI designed to

educate communities

in saving and

borrowing for

investment in small

economic activities,

household income and

asset building.

Outcomes (FP & Economy)

Perceived ImpactsHousehold income: Entrepreneurship development; Social capital

• Large increase in Large increase in assetsassets

• Improved nutrition, Improved nutrition, access to medical access to medical services and services and educationeducation

• Improved social status/social Improved social status/social capitalcapital

• Improved intra-family Improved intra-family relationshipsrelationships

• Increased stability of Increased stability of household enterpriseshousehold enterprises

• Increase in number of Increase in number of Economic ActivitiesEconomic Activities

Integration update• In 129 VSL groups • 2853 women and 1010 men• Working with 129 peer educators (FP) • 45 Change agents (VSLG)• 30 Church Leaders• 6 sector Anti GBV committees• Training of 128 Peer Educators (males&

females) on GBV, FP and Male engagement.

• Training of staff in FP, Gender and use of social change tools (SAA tools)

• Reflection sessions with project and CO staff on gender norms

Reason of success

Access to FP services: FP post &CBDAccess to information (weekly meetings)Challenge of some social norms (SAA)Couple counseling done by trained

religious leaders

Challenges

•Sustaining the integration•Monitoring activities/supervision•FP services for specific groups like widows and youth not yet in place