Family planning advocacy messages should be evidence-based. Whether one is advocating for increased funding for voluntary family planning services, policy change to support best practices in service delivery, or more widespread understanding of the health benefits of healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, effective use of good data is essential to credible and impactful messaging. Good translation of data and evidence into clear and convincing advocacy messages can:

• allow donors and government officials to recognize family planning as a smart investment and a cost-effective health and development solution
• convince policy makers of the benefits of developing or revising national family planning policies to support evidence-based, innovative practices, such as community-based access to injectables and implants, that will expand contraceptive access and choice
• foster greater understanding and acceptance among community leaders and members about the health benefits of family planning
• increase awareness among donors, decision makers, program managers and others of the family planning needs of special populations, including youth, people living with HIV and people living in humanitarian settings

This section of the Family Planning Advocacy Toolkit includes links to sources for data on family planning, population and development; clear, concise summaries and infographics of the latest family planning data from leading global family planning and reproductive health research organizations; and state-of-the-art tools for analyzing, illustrating and using data in advocacy presentations, briefs and other messages.

Do you have family planning data source or advocacy tool that is not represented in this Toolkit? To suggest an additional source for data and evidence or share your perspective, please fill out our feedback form.