The Scaling Up Family Planning (SuFP) programme, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has reached more than 5.2 million women and girls in Tanzania over a nine-year period, marking a major milestone in improving access to reproductive health services.
The programme, implemented in partnership with the Government of Tanzania and development partners including MSI Tanzania, UNFPA, EngenderHealth and Pathfinder International, ran from 2017 to 2026 with the aim of expanding access to family planning services and strengthening reproductive health systems across the country.
Speaking during a learning and evaluation conference held in Dodoma, MSI Tanzania Director of Operations, Dr. Stephen Mutegeki, said the programme has demonstrated that significant progress in public health can be achieved when stakeholders work together toward shared goals.
He added that MSI Tanzania will continue collaborating with the government and partners to ensure the gains achieved are sustained and that equitable access to quality reproductive health services remains a priority.
Representing the United Kingdom, Deputy Development Director at the British High Commission in Tanzania, Will Guest, said the UK Government will continue supporting efforts aimed at improving reproductive health services and advancing the rights of women and girls.
He said the success of SuFP reflects the importance of long-term investment in health systems that directly benefit communities.
According to partners, the programme enabled more than 5.2 million women and girls to access family planning services, helping to prevent an estimated 6,500 maternal deaths and 8.3 million unintended pregnancies.
Health experts say these achievements have significantly contributed to improving maternal health outcomes and reducing risks linked to unsafe pregnancies.
Speaking on behalf of implementing partners, UNFPA Country Representative Mark Bryan Schreiner said the results demonstrate that large-scale impact is possible when governments, service providers, development partners and communities work in close coordination.
He stressed that continued collaboration remains essential to ensure reproductive health services reach underserved populations.
The SuFP programme was implemented through a strong partnership between the Government of Tanzania and international development organisations, focusing on expanding service delivery points, improving quality of care, strengthening contraceptive supply chains, and raising community awareness on family planning options.
As the programme concludes its implementation period, stakeholders have called for continued investment to sustain the gains achieved over the past nine years, emphasizing that access to family planning services remains vital for protecting the health of women and girls and supporting national development goals.
