A final consideration from our guests was the importance of monitoring and evaluating gender integration in family planning programming. They mentioned the need for stronger monitoring systems at all levels—from the individual level to the district and national level. Guests in episode 1 mentioned ways to measure reproductive empowerment. Those in episode 2 discussed ways in which they measured quality of care around GBV and family planning services.
In episode 3, our guests discussed ways that men are often included in monitoring and evaluation efforts, noting their inclusion is usually focused on their role as family planning clients. The strong lack of indicators around men as family planning users, partners, and agents of change may be preventing us from having more nuanced information. These are needed to engage with men and boys around these other roles. Guests also made suggestions for specific indicators that can be useful for measuring how men engage as partners, such as the percentage of men who share in reproductive decision-making with their intimate partner. To measure men’s engagement as agents of change, programs could look at attitudes toward specific gender and social norms or national advocacy campaigns that address gender equity.
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