Pathfinder Partnership: Final Evaluation Report
Report Overview
This final evaluation report documents the outcomes and impact of the five-year partnership between HEAL Ethiopia and Pathfinder International Ethiopia (PI-E), funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The partnership focused on improving reproductive health and family planning services in underserved communities across Ethiopia.
The report presents key achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for future programming in reproductive health and family planning.
Project Period
January 2017 - December 2021
Geographic Coverage
4 regions: Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray
Beneficiaries
Over 250,000 women, men, and young people
Evaluation Methodology
Mixed methods: Quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, focus groups, and health facility assessments
Project Background
The Pathfinder Partnership was initiated in response to the high unmet need for family planning and reproductive health services in Ethiopia, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Despite progress in recent years, many women still face significant barriers to accessing quality reproductive health services.
The partnership aimed to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach that combined service delivery improvements, demand creation, policy advocacy, and capacity building of local health systems.
Key Achievements
Service Delivery
- Upgraded 35 health facilities with equipment and supplies
- Trained 120 healthcare providers in comprehensive family planning services
- Established 15 youth-friendly service corners
- Provided family planning services to over 150,000 women
Community Engagement
- Trained 250 community health workers
- Established 120 community dialogue groups
- Engaged 500+ religious and community leaders
- Reached 100,000+ people with behavior change communication
Youth Engagement
- Established 20 youth clubs with 5,000+ members
- Trained 150 peer educators
- Reached 50,000+ young people with reproductive health information
- Increased youth utilization of services by 65%
Capacity Building
- Strengthened 40 health facilities' management systems
- Trained 80 health managers in leadership and supervision
- Improved supply chain management in all target districts
- Enhanced data collection and use for decision-making
Key Outcomes
Contraceptive Prevalence
Modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age
Youth Service Utilization
Increase in young people accessing reproductive health services
Unmet Need
Reduction in unmet need for family planning
Knowledge Levels
Community members with comprehensive reproductive health knowledge
Challenges & Lessons Learned
The evaluation identified several challenges and valuable lessons for future programming:
- Geographic barriers: Remote communities remained difficult to reach, highlighting the need for mobile outreach services and community-based distribution
- Cultural and religious factors: Resistance from some community and religious leaders required more intensive engagement and culturally sensitive approaches
- Health system constraints: Staff turnover and supply chain issues affected service continuity, emphasizing the importance of system strengthening
- Youth engagement: Reaching out-of-school youth proved challenging, requiring innovative approaches beyond school-based programs
- Male involvement: Engaging men as supportive partners was essential but required dedicated strategies and messaging
Recommendations
Based on the evaluation findings, the report makes the following recommendations:
- Expand the range of contraceptive methods available at all service delivery points to increase choice and meet diverse needs
- Strengthen integration of family planning with other health services, particularly maternal health and HIV services
- Develop targeted approaches for underserved groups, including adolescents, men, and rural communities
- Enhance sustainability through greater engagement with local government and community structures
- Scale up successful models such as youth-friendly services and community-based distribution
- Invest in digital health solutions to improve data management, supply chain, and client follow-up
Conclusion
The Pathfinder Partnership has made significant contributions to improving reproductive health and family planning services in Ethiopia. The evaluation demonstrates that a comprehensive approach, combining service delivery improvements with community engagement and system strengthening, can achieve meaningful results.
The lessons learned and recommendations from this evaluation provide valuable guidance for future reproductive health programming in Ethiopia and similar contexts. HEAL Ethiopia and Pathfinder International remain committed to building on these achievements and addressing the remaining challenges.
Report Citation
HEAL Ethiopia & Pathfinder International Ethiopia (2022). Improving Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Ethiopia: Final Evaluation of the Sida-funded Partnership Program. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.