ABSTRACT
The concluding chapter covers three themes. It traces the negative effects of the Congo’s colonial past to contemporary family planning programming and individual contraceptive use. It raises provocative questions regarding donor funding and expected results. And it identifies six conditions that would accelerate the pace of family planning. The negative effects of the colonial past include the failure to educate women, the grinding poverty that robs women of agency, a deep-seated fear of sterility, opposition from the Catholic Church, the lack of private sector accountability, and the paucity of government funding for the social sectors.
It addresses several questions. Why should donors fund a country with vast mineral wealth? Why has progress been so slow? And why should we expect better results in the future than in the past?
The six conditions for accelerating family planning include: (1) solid donor funding to results-oriented organizations, including for contraceptive procurement; (2) continuous high-level advocacy to sustain government commitment; (3) a cohesive, mission-driven stakeholder group (CTMP); (4) the appointment of directors to the PNSR and PNSA with a demonstrated track record in family planning; (5) effective collaboration between government agencies and iNGOs; and (6) dedicated Congolese staff experienced in managing multiple aspects of programming.
