State Innovations in Family Planning Services(SIFPSA):The Innovations in Family Planning Services (IFPS) Project was designed to serve as a catalyst for the Government of India in reorienting and revitalizing the country's family planning services. In 1992 when this project was conceived the population of Uttar Pradesh was 140 million making it the largest state in India and larger than all but five countries in the world. Uttar Pradesh also had one of the poorer demographic social and economic profiles in India. The thinking was that if access to family planning services could be greatlyincreased and if couples accept and use contraception on a broad scale in U.P., the efforts for reduction in fertility in India and the world would receive a major fillip. Further, based on experience of U.P., other states including those slow-to-progress would also benefit.

In light of this thinking the IFPS Project Agreement came into being as a joint endeavour of Government of India and USAID on 30th September, 1992. The project structure envisaged that all activities would be implemented by a registered society, 'State Innovations in Family Planning Services Project Agency' (SIFPSA). This society set up to manage the project would provide flexibility in the flow of funds from Government of India and help in involving both Government agencies as well as non-governmental sector in family planning service delivery. The society would have flexibility to recruit experts from the private sector and also obtain Government officers on deputation. The society would be responsible for the day to day co-ordination and management of all project activities.

The IFPS Project has been a large and complex project with elements of services, training, logistics, contraceptive marketing and research & evaluation. However, the four major components are:-

• Public sector activities


• NGO, Cooperative and employer based activities


• Contraceptive social marketing programme


• Research & evaluation activities related to key strategic and programmatic areas
  

Because of its innovative nature and delays in the setting up of an autonomous society, the Project got underway only in 1994. Thereafter, a phased approach was adopted and activities scaled up from 6 districts to 15 districts and then to 38 districts of U.P. During last fourteen years, SIFPSA has been able to develop models for service delivery through NGOs, milk co-operatives, employer organizations and traditional systems of practitioners. Quality of services in the public sector has been improved with extensive training and, renovation and improvement in public sector health facilities. A major contraceptive marketing programme has been undertaken. During recent past various new initiatives has been taken in order to improve service delivery and quality of services. Social Franchising and Voucher system project has also been initiated on pilot basis among various other innovative strategies.

Various evaluations including the mid-term assessment showed that the Project has been able to make impact on demographic profile in areas covered and making a difference in the quality of life of the people in the districts where it works.

SIFPSA has developed 70 Project Implementation Plans for National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and formed all the 17 Divisional PMUs