PS Kenya Hosts National DESIP Dissemination Conference to Reflect on Family Planning Gains from the UK Government’s DESIP Project in Select Counties

Nairobi, Kenya – January 30, 2025 – The National DESIP Dissemination Conference 2025 kicked off today in Nairobi, bringing together key stakeholders from the reproductive health sector to reflect on the transformative impact of the Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning (DESIP) Programme. Funded by UK Aid through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), DESIP has been instrumental in expanding access to family planning (FP) services, particularly for vulnerable populations in some of Kenya’s most underserved areas.

PHOTO: PS Kenya CEO Dr. Margaret Njenga addressing members of the press during the National DESIP Dissemination Conference 2025 in Nairobi

Themed “Reaching the Most Vulnerable to the Last Mile: Reflection on Innovative Family Planning Practices from the DESIP Programme,” the conference focused on the significant strides made during the six-year implementation of the programme, which was designed to address high maternal and neonatal mortality rates by improving family planning access and education. Implemented across 12 counties with low modern contraceptive prevalence rates (mCPR), the DESIP Programme has worked to empower rural women, adolescents, and people with disabilities in making informed reproductive health choices.

PS Kenya's CEO, Dr. Margaret Njenga, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the DESIP Programme. "The DESIP Programme has been a game-changer in Kenya’s reproductive health landscape, empowering thousands of women and marginalized communities with access to quality family planning services," she said. "Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, DESIP has strengthened health systems and made a significant impact in reducing maternal mortality while advancing Kenya’s FP2030 commitments. As we celebrate the successful conclusion of this programme, PS Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining these gains and ensuring that every woman has the right and opportunity to make informed reproductive health choices."

One of the notable achievements highlighted at the conference was the creation of a robust partnership between the Kenyan government and international development organizations. The British High Commission’s Deputy Development Director, Eduarda Mendonca-Gray, reflected on the success of these collaborations. "The UK has a long history of working on sexual and reproductive health alongside the Kenyan government. As we come to a close of the programme, innovation has been vital to the transformative change that we have seen across the ten counties we have been working in," she stated. "We are pleased to have catalyzed transformative change in family planning by investing in the world’s first Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health - Development Impact Bond. This has resulted in over 400,000 girls and women in low-income settings receiving family planning services in urban and peri-urban areas."

PHOTO: PS Kenya CEO Dr. Margaret Njenga during a photo session with key officials from Ministry of Health, Council of Governors and development partners 

Since its launch in April 2019, DESIP has reached over 361,378 additional family planning users and delivered 3,686,004 million Couple Years of Protection (CYP) by the end of December 2024. Furthermore, it has averted more than 4,528 maternal deaths by improving access to family planning services in regions with high unmet needs.

The impact of the DESIP programme is evident in the findings from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), which showed an increase in mCPR from 53% in 2014 to 57% in 2022 among married women. The counties supported by DESIP have been pivotal in driving these gains, helping Kenya secure its status as an FP2030 exemplar country.

Dr. Mohammed Sheikh, Director of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), highlighted the program’s focus on reaching hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations, including those in counties with very low contraceptive prevalence rates. "We have been working for the last six years in 12 counties, particularly in the ASAL regions, where contraceptive prevalence is as low as 5% in places like Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa," Dr. Sheikh said. "Our goal is to ensure that no one is left behind, especially those living in remote areas. This is why the DESIP programme has focused on strengthening commodity security and improving access to services at the last mile."

PHOTO: NCPD Director Dr. Mohammed Sheikh addressing the press today in Nairobi

Dr. Sheikh also emphasized the broader economic and social benefits of family planning. "Family planning is an integral piece of providing health services and has significant economic impacts. By ensuring that our population is healthy and well-managed, we can unlock the potential for a demographic dividend, which can propel our nation forward."

As the conference continued, participants explored strategies to sustain the gains made under the DESIP programme, with discussions around scaling innovative solutions, including digital health interventions and the active involvement of the private sector in enhancing accessibility to family planning commodities. With nearly 75% of Kenya’s population under the age of 35, as highlighted by Dr. Sheikh, addressing family planning needs remains critical for ensuring a healthy, productive population.

As Kenya celebrates the accomplishments of the DESIP programme, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum and building on these successes. The final goal remains clear: to ensure that every woman and man, regardless of location or socio-economic status, has access to the family planning services they need for healthier, more sustainable futures.

By John Toris