Publications » Men Matter: Scaling Up Approaches to Promote Constructive Men’s Engagement in Reproductive Health and Gender Equity
In cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other partners in Mali, The USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1, implemented a model process for building an enabling policy and institutional environment for constructive men’s engagement (CME) in reproductive health. The project drew on strong support for gender equity among the government, donors, and nongovernmental organizations as well as on lessons learned from previous work. The project facilitated the assembly of a large, multisectoral group of stakeholders to develop, refine, and validate Mali’s national guidelines in support of the national Reproductive Health Strategic Plan. The Minister of Health quickly approved the guidelines and signed them into effect on May 20, 2008. As a result of preparing and implementing CME guidelines in Mali, institutional support and collaboration have increased among the government, civil society, donor, and faith-based sectors— thereby initiating dialogue and policy analysis related to CME in reproductive health and gender equity. In addition, the project’s support of USAID’s effort to integrate CME into FP/RH programs extends the reach of CME and helps to improve health outcomes. Helping USAID institutionalize CME in its programs also ensures that successful approaches continue, making a lasting change.