Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan
A programme supporting evidence-based and scalable approaches to accelerate family planning progress in Pakistan.
Project Overview
About the project
DAFPAK supports a multi-dimensional approach to accelerating family planning progress in Pakistan. The Population Council's work includes generating high-quality research and implementation science, examining the links between population dynamics and climate resilience, developing policy and advocacy products, strengthening data systems and analytical capacity, and monitoring and evaluating program components to improve effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
DAFPAK brings together four linked programme components, each addressing a different aspect of expanding access to voluntary family planning and strengthening the systems that support evidence-based action:
strengthening the role of private-sector male family physicians in family planning service delivery in Punjab.
linking social protection with reproductive health services to reduce financial and access barriers for poor women in Punjab.
strengthening the use of routine health data for planning, monitoring, accountability, and performance management in Punjab.
translating the Tawazun national narrative into strategic communication and large-scale social and behavior change action.
Resources
Project Resources
Brief
Making Better Use of Data for Improved Health Service Delivery in Punjab
Making Better Use of Data for Improved Health Service Delivery in Punjab describes a collaboration between the Population Council and the Health and Population Department, Punjab, particularly HISDU, to strengthen the use of routine health information for planning and performance management. The work combines the ASET interoperable analytics platform, specialized training in data analytics, visualization and GIS, and the District Performance Tracker to help provincial and district managers turn routine data into actionable evidence.
Brief
PAIDAR: Strengthening the Role of Private Male Family Physicians in Family Planning
PAIDAR demonstrates how private-sector male family physicians can expand access to quality family planning services in Punjab. Implemented across six districts, the model combined provider mapping and competency-based training, digital reporting through a mobile MIS, pharmacy and pharmaceutical-distributor engagement, referral networks, and supportive supervision. The initiative engaged more than 805 physicians and served over 67,000 family planning clients, while also testing the provision of long-acting contraceptive methods through trained private providers.
Brief
Strategic Communication for Population Stabilization
Strategic Communication for Population Stabilization documents the progression from the nationally endorsed Tawazun narrative to large-scale social and behavioral change communication. The initiative established a rights-based population narrative, secured religious and cross-sectoral legitimacy, embedded consistent messaging within government systems, and translated the framework into the Waqfa birth-spacing campaign. It demonstrates how policy endorsement, religious engagement, media partnerships, and evidence-based messaging can build a coherent national communication model for population stabilization.
Brief
Voucher Model for Family Planning
The Family Planning Voucher Scheme links social protection with reproductive health services to reduce financial, mobility, and access barriers for poor women. Designed and evaluated by the Population Council with BISP and the Punjab Population Innovation Fund, the model enabled eligible women to obtain services from accredited public and private providers using a digital voucher system. Evaluation results showed increased contraceptive use, reduced unmet need, and strong potential for province-wide scale-up.
Brief
From Evidence to Action: Case for Further Investment in Family Planning
From Evidence to Action presents the case for further investment in family planning to accelerate fertility decline in Punjab. Drawing on evidence generated through DAFPAK and related partnerships, the brief brings together five scalable interventions: PAIDAR private-sector engagement, the Family Planning Voucher Scheme, data-driven decision support through ASET and DPT, client-centered communication, and the Tawazun/Waqfa social and behavioral change campaign. It sets out an institutionalization agenda focused on sustainable public-private partnerships, equity-focused financing, data-driven governance, client-centered services, and sustained social and behavior change.
Programme Components
DAFPAK Components
Explore each component for its approach, partnerships, evidence and related resources.
PAIDAR
Private Sector Allied for Inclusive Delivery of Accessible Reproductive Health
A DAFPAK component strengthening the role of private-sector male family physicians in family planning service delivery in Punjab.
Explore ComponentFamily Planning Voucher Scheme
Voucher Model for Family Planning
A DAFPAK component linking social protection with reproductive health services to reduce financial and access barriers for poor women in Punjab.
Explore ComponentData for Better Decisions
Data for Better Decisions
A DAFPAK component strengthening the use of routine health data for planning, monitoring, accountability, and performance management in Punjab.
Explore ComponentStrategic Communication / SBCC
Strategic Communication for Population Stabilization
A DAFPAK component translating the Tawazun national narrative into strategic communication and large-scale social and behavior change action.
Explore Component