Under the project’s first investment phase, our process evaluation was led by an external evaluation partner, Itad, and documented A360’s experience implementing its aspirational programming across the project’s four distinct geographies. Itad conducted full rounds of process evaluation data collection and Participatory Action Research (PAR) to assess A360’s programming in Southern Nigeria and Ethiopia from 2019-2020.
The webinar and corresponding slides present the methodology and top-line findings from these rounds of the 2019-2020 process evaluation and PAR.
Key findings included:
- On aspirational programming: A360’s aspirational intervention components support girls to see the relevance, and influencers to support girls’ use of contraception – albeit with a caveat. Trust in A360 can diminish if the project does not maintain quality or diversity of the program’s aspirational elements.
- On engaging influencers: Despite having a primary mandate for service delivery, the PAR suggests that A360 can do more to engage girls’ key influencers, integral to building an enabling environment for girls’ contraceptive use. This engagement supports not just girls’ initial uptake of, but also their choice to continue a contraceptive method.
- On contraceptive continuation and discontinuation: Proactive follow up from service providers helped some girls to manage side effects and continue using contraception. Often, however, these efforts do not sufficiently overcome girls’ deep-rooted fears about changes to menstrual cycles, misconceptions about alternative methods, or opposition from spouses, family or communities. Service providers may need additional support to proactively respond to and manage girls’ concerns, and follow-up with girls after they leave the clinic.
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