The Government of Tanzania’s spending on family planning from its own sources surpassed the expected budget allocation this fiscal year (FY). The Health Minister announced at a June Parliament meeting that the government released a total of five billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately USD 2.2 million) in FY2014-15 – 2.5 times what was initially allocated. The original allocation was two billion Tanzanian shillings (Tsh). The expenditure went to procurement and distribution of family planning commodities and supplies.
In FY 2013-14, the government released three billion Tshs against the original budget allocation of one billion Tshs, demonstrating increased support to family planning as per Tanzania’s Family Planning 2020 commitments in July 2012.
Over the last two fiscal years, Advance Family Planning local partners United Nations Association and Health Promotion Tanzania packaged and shared evidence-based reports and policy briefs highlighting the gaps in skilled service providers, impact on maternal and child health, and the need for increased resource allocation for family planning in the country.
AFP Tanzania partners conducted targeted advocacy meetings between February and June 2015. They met with the Department of Preventive Services and the Directorate of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; the Budget Office in the Ministry of Finance; and engaged members of parliament in the Parliamentary Family Planning Club and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Services.
In collaboration with other family planning stakeholders, AFP Tanzania will continue to track government spending on family planning with respect to increasing the number of skilled family planning providers and strengthening community-based family planning services.
United Nations Association and Health Promotion Tanzania are AFP local partners with Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs Tanzania.