In our short briefing, learn how MSI country programmes empower community health workers through tailored support and partnerships.
There is strong evidence that demonstrates how community health worker (CHW) programmes positively impact family planning outcomes. CHWs are able to bring sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services straight to their neighbours’ doorsteps.
CHWs improve health equity by reaching the most marginalised, reducing financial barriers and addressing mobility constraints. They are able to leverage the trust that comes from being part of the community to help women and girls overcome social barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). They can only do this with the right training and support. MSI works with CHWs in almost all of the contexts where we operate. We are committed to working with governments and partners to equip CHWs to deliver on their full potential and support reproductive choice.
In 2023, we piloted resources in Sierra Leone to support CHWs to engage their communities in discussions about family planning. These tools were designed to complement the government’s integrated CHW programme, launched at the end of 2022. An evaluation of the pilot in early 2024 suggested that the tools helped to improve CHW knowledge and confidence to talk about family planning. This in turn helped them confidently address myths, and pass on this knowledge to their community. The MSI team are now exploring how to refine and scale these tools. Read more about the design and testing of the tools below:
