TheseThreeThings

TheseThreeThings

Sokoto’s family planning breakthrough

Hi, I’m Zainab Ali, Project Manager in Nigeria. In this edition of These Three Things, we look at how a data-driven approach is helping the government of Sokoto State to transform family planning uptake.

Sokoto is showing what true ownership looks like. The state has committed to more than triple its funding for family planning products – moving from ₦30 million in 2025 to ₦150 million for 2026.

This local leadership is backed by a coalition of partners: in 2026, the National Basket Fund will provide ~₦800 million alongside ₦1.1 billion in support from CIFF.

This collective investment is already changing lives. Between August 2025 and March 2026, we’ve seen:

A surge in first-timers: A 33% jump in people starting family planning for the first time, rising from 27,856 to 36,986.
Deliveries that actually arrive: Successful “last-mile” deliveries to remote clinics soared from 22% to 82%.
Fewer empty shelves: Product stock-outs dropped from 43% to 22% in just six months.
More women using modern methods: A 24% increase, growing from 42,296 to 52,272 women.

Three things that helped us break through.

Set mandatory minimums

Clinics typically receive new supplies based only on what they used the month before. This is a trap: if a clinic runs out and gives out nothing, the system thinks they don’t need anything, creating a vicious cycle of shortages. We helped the state build an allocation tool that prioritises high-volume sites and guarantees a minimum stock for every facility. Now, needs are based on the actual population a clinic serves.

Verify every step

A full warehouse doesn’t help a couple in a remote village if the delivery truck never arrives. With our support, the government implemented a performance dashboard that gives the state real-time visibility into the supply chain. By reviewing route data every day, the state can fix delivery failures before a clinic runs out. Today, the government has successfully verified deliveries to 84% (499 out of 597) of visited health facilities.

“Focusing on credible, real-time facility data has shifted our approach from reacting to past shortages to proactively meeting the needs of our population,” notes Abubakar Mohammed Kaura, Director of Community Health Services, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA).

Redesign for scale

To make long-term options (like implants) available everywhere, the government had to make training affordable. The government moved training out of expensive hotels and into local government facilities using state master trainers.

“By redesigning our training models for scale and sustainability, we have already reached dozens of new providers at a fraction of the traditional cost,” says Kaura.

This low-cost model allowed us to complete Phase 1 and 2 by training 92 providers to date, with a plan to reach 100% of the 244 target staff by late 2026. To keep providers supported, there is ongoing on-the-job mentoring and peer-to-peer learning groups where small cohorts stay connected to share experiences and solve problems together.

The result? The government can sustain a skilled workforce with less reliance on outside funding. Because providers are backed by reliable supply lines, real-time data, mentoring and peer support, they have the foundation needed to roll out and sustain new health initiatives long-term, right where women live.

The power of partnership

This progress is only possible because of a dedicated network of partners working under the leadership of the Sokoto State Ministry of Health and Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA).

Together, UNFPA and MSI Reproductive Choices are bringing family planning services closer to families across the state. While UNFPA ensures essential commodities reach even the most remote health facilities, MSI equips healthcare workers with the skills to deliver quality care and leads outreach to underserved communities.
DISC is driving innovation in self-care and demand generation.
Lafiya, IntegratE, PPFN, TCI, and DKT International are making vital contributions in coordinating data, supply chains, and facility monitoring.

According to Kaura, this coordinated effort has been a game changer:

“Acasus has provided invaluable support in strengthening leadership and aligning partners to reduce duplication across Sokoto State. This partnership has been essential in our progress toward more than doubling modern contraceptive use by 2028.”

By fixing the foundations together, the government is ensuring that when a family in Sokoto decides to space and time births, the support – and the supplies – are ready for them.

AUTHOR

Zainab Ali

ROLE

Project Manager, Nigeria

Sign up for the next edition

← Back

Thank you for subscribing

Thank you for subscribing to TheseThreeThings, a newsletter created by Acasus.

By sharing your email address, you are opting in to receive communications from Acasus on a number of relevant subjects. You can unsubscribe at any time.