Advocacy and Communication
Many family planning programs are a combination of interventions that address service delivery, demand generation and advocacy (SDA).
Social and Behavior Change Communication
Social and behavior change communication (SBCC - also known as behavior change communication or social and behavior change) is often part of a strategy to generate demand for family planning services. SBCC uses communication strategies to promote positive behaviors and social change within communities. It aims to influence and support individual and collective behaviors that improve health and well-being. SBCC incorporates a mix of tools, methods, and approaches to engage and inform people, ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make healthier choices. To learn more about SBCC, visit Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs or access the Breakthrough ACTION project's SBC Learning Central portal.
Source: SBC Overview HIP brief
Did you know?
Strategic communications supports evidence-based advocacy using research, data and information to inform and influence policies and decision-making. SBCC is about shifting behavior in communities.
Advocacy
Advocacy is another essential component of family planning programming. Advocacy at the sub-national level involves getting buy-in and support for family planning among leaders and decision-makers in discrete areas within a country (including regions, provinces, districts and counties). Advocacy strategies can also be used to create family planning champions among a variety of groups, such as religious leaders, community leaders, youth, parents, etc.
One of the most effective uses of advocacy is to increase and sustain financial commitments for family planning using evidence and accountability.
Source: Galvanizing Commitment HIP brief.
Advocate for increased commitment and follow through
- Timing is everything. Engage early in strategy development so that decision-makers understand the contribution that family planning makes to the development agenda. As governments develop their budgets and expenditure frameworks, mobilize advocacy efforts at the right moment in the annual cycle to influence the process.
- Involve civil society organizations, professional associations, and the media in advocacy. The media can be unbiased communicators of the problems and consequences to the public, and call for action.
- Coordinate advocacy efforts. Whether as part of a reproductive health technical working group, contraceptive security committee, or other coordinating board, fostering communication among all sectors helps build trust and confidence.
- Support policy champions. Policy champions reach decision-makers to plant and nurture ideas of commitment and to follow through with accountability approaches. Cultivate and support champions wherever possible—within different parts of government, the private sector, and academia, as well as within individuals whose work focuses on maternal and child health, HIV, or other health issues.
Use evidence to inform advocacy efforts and reinforce accountability
- Support collection and analysis of financial data. Financial data help decision-makers understand how funds flow. Use information on cost, cost-effectiveness, and cost savings, including National Health Accounts and reproductive health subaccounts. The Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (PETS), supported by the World Bank, is an example of a tracking system.
- Estimate the true resource needs of family planning programs beyond the cost of supplies and equipment. Costed implementation plans should address all aspects of family planning.
- Ensure program impacts are measured and evaluated. With this evidence, advocates can confirm that resources are used efficiently, effectively, and equitably.
To improve accountability, monitor progress toward meeting commitments
- The UNFPA Supplies Partnership annual report monitors program performance in 54 countries on increased government commitment, availability and choice, and supply chain strengthening.
- The annual FP2030 report includes key indicators of country progress toward commitments. Track20 and the Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA2020) projects also track key measures at the country level.
- Use social accountability to apply pressure to follow through on commitments. Civil society can play a crucial role in holding governments accountable. Social accountability offers a variety of approaches—from periodic community assessments to ongoing budget tracking.
Did you know about FP2030?
FP2030, the only global partnership focused on family planning, is working in partnership with USAID, UNFPA and a diverse range of partners to mobilize commitments at the national level. A key priority is to advance recognition of family planning by expanding partnerships and leveraging the 2030 agenda. FP2030 is structured around regional hubs with variety of focus areas and a data hub. Launched at the London Summit on Family Planning in 2012, it continues to lead the world in advocacy and accountability in access to contraception.
Advocacy Resource
Telling their own stories in their own words, hundreds of people share how they are working for family planning around the world through the FP Voices storytelling initiative. Use this story bank in advocacy with many different audiences – from parliamentarians to healthcare providers.
Key Resources
- EPF Global Contraceptive Atlas
- FP2030 Advocacy and Accountability Framework
- FP2030 Commitments Toolkit
- FP Voices storytelling initiative
- Galvanizing Commitment HIP brief
- Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs
- Mass Media HIP brief
- PRB Policy Communications Toolkit
- Public Expenditure Tracking System, World Bank
- Resources for Family Planning Advocates, Population Reference Bureau
- Repositioning Family Planning materials, Health Policy Plus
- SBC Learning Central
- SBC Overview HIP brief
- The SMART Advocacy guide, Advance Family Planning
- 20 Essential Resources: Family Planning Policy Environments, Knowledge Success
FP Basics Mini-Course
Module 1: What Is Family Planning?
Module 2: Technical Topics