Planning for Life: Final Evaluation

This 49-page report is an evaluation of the International Youth Foundation (IYF)'s Planning for Life (PfL) initiative, which is an effort to increase knowledge and skills around integrating youth reproductive health (YRH) and family planning (FP) in development programmes for youth ages 10-24 on 3 levels: among IYF staff, within IYF's Global Partner Network, and through pilot projects in Tanzania, India, and the Philippines. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Learning, PfL conducted education and awareness activities at these 3 levels from March 2007 to November 2009 in an effort to integrate YRH and FP into youth livelihood, education, and HIV prevention programmes.

Qualitative data were collected at all 3 operational levels using structured and semi-structured tools during a final process evaluation of PfL was conducted from July to September 2009. Interviews and focus group discussions were used at the pilot programme level, and data were collected at one point in time near the culmination of the programme.

An excerpt from the Conclusions section of the report follows:
"PfL had a number of successes, both in the field and at the HQ [headquarters] level.

• In Tanzania, service providers, PEs [peer educators], and youth trained through TRCS [Tanzanian Red Cross Society] provided a positive assessment of PFL. TRCS-trained service providers and PEs participated in high quality training and learned how to provide youth-friendly services. Youth reached by TRCS had accurate knowledge and positive attitudes around FP/RH. Additionally, they exhibited the life skills necessary for practicing safe behaviors, including the ability to deal with sexual pressure from peers and adults. Youth beneficiaries also spoke to the youth-friendliness of health care workers, and there is a seemingly high acceptance of FP methods by youth in Rufigi [Tanzania]. The success of PFL and TRCS may be partly attributed to proper training, regular and supportive supervision by TRCS District Health Coordinators, youth-friendly service providers, as well as service providers 'advertising' their youth-friendliness to young people in schools.
• In India, many participants and trainers of Project Samriddhi shared their knowledge of FP/RH in great detail without embarrassment, an indication of the project's positive impact given the conservative culture of South Asia. Older youth spoke at length about how the program had cleared many of their myths related to sexuality and increased their knowledge. Additionally, younger youth and those from rural areas (i.e. Byrajju Foundation) found the topics on changes during the puberty useful and easy to comprehend. Boys showed greater sensitivity towards gender issues, realizing more fully the roles girls and women play in their lives, while girls found sessions on menstruation and its management and gender roles very helpful.
• In Philippines, RH and HIV/AIDS Curriculum for Young People was accepted by both trainers at organizations and youth beneficiaries as culturally appropriate. It seems that staff and service providers were able to provide sensitive and non-judgmental education and services to youth.
• At IYF HQ, PfL was successful in working with the Education Center to integrate YRH/FP lessons into the Passport to Success curriculum. Given the number breadth of youth the curriculum reaches, this is one of the project's biggest successes at the HQ level. Additionally, staff gained some knowledge and increased their interest in YRH after attending the learning sessions and brown bags facilitated by the Health Center...

Lessons Learned & Recommendations...

• Integrating family planning and reproductive health into existing programs - especially HIV/AIDS prevention programs - can be an efficient and cost-effective way to raise awareness of YRH/FP...
• YRH programs are best implemented when youth have access to FP methods and other RH services...
• Integrating YRH/PF information into products that are already widely used may be one of the most efficient and visible ways to achieve integration...
• ...Given the numerous delays in the field, youth beneficiaries in the three countries were only exposed to the PfL project activities for 1-6 months before the end of the project period. It is likely this was too brief of a time for youth to have made significant, sustained changes in their sexual behaviors.
• Building the capacity of local organizations requires having dedicated 'parent' staff in-country....Given the multi-leveled structure of the PfL project, future YRH programs may want to consider 'more depth' and 'less breadth' in order to achieve greater impact."