Family planning and other reproductive health (FP/RH) programs are the single most effective intervention in reducing maternal mortality. These programs are essential for the health and well-being of women, men, and children, and for the achievement of social, economic, and other development goals. While national FP/RH programs in many developing countries have achieved dramatic results over the last five decades, in most of the world's poorest countries contraceptive use and access to care before, during, and after delivery remain low and the unmet need urgent. Reproductive health is not seen as a priority, or is a diminishing priority, in many developing countries. The reallocation of international and national resources to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other disease emergencies, and the lack of preparation for leadership from a younger generation of FP/RH professionals are contributing to this crisis.

LMS programs and approaches for strengthening leadership and management capacity are relevant to all service delivery challenges, including urgent challenges facing national family planning and reproductive health programs: integration of HIV/AIDS services into RH settings, building skills and systems for contraceptive procurement as international funders withdraw free donations, and leadership and advocacy on the vital contribution of FP/RH to national and international development goals. LMS is addressing such issues through:

Implementation of face-to-face and virtual learning programs which strengthen the ability of health managers and providers to achieve results in FP/RH

LMS is collaborating with ACQUIRE/EngenderHealth in Kigoma, a remote province of western Tanzania. ACQUIRE is supporting the public health system to focus on critical family planning issues, such as low use of FP services and shortages of trained providers. It is using LMS's Leadership Development Program to strengthen district and health facility managers' ability to increase the number of family planning clients.

Adaptation of existing LMS Web resources and virtual learning programs

LMS is utilizing existing resources, such as the Global Exchange Network for Reproductive Health and the Virtual Leadership Development Program to support USAID's effort to reposition family planning in the global agenda and to apply best practices in contraceptive commodity security as donor support withdraws.

Publications

LMS captures knowledge and best practices by publishing materials that detail practical leadership and management approaches to addressing priority FP/RH and other service delivery challenges (for information on specific publications, please visit the MSH Bookstore).