There are currently 5.7 billion mobile phone subscriptions in the developing world, and use of the internet via those phones, especially among young people, continues to increase. Like many international development organizations, FHI 360 leverages this widespread use of mobile and digital technologies to enhance the impact of our work. And, six years ago, we were one of the first organizations to harness the potential of mobile phones to deliver simple, accurate and globally relevant information on reproductive health directly to individuals when we launched Mobile for Reproductive Health (m4RH). We share results and insights from implementing this award-winning SMS service in a new resource: Mobile for Reproductive Health (m4RH) Toolkit.

The toolkit provides useful tips and lessons learned for individuals and organizations who are considering whether and how to implement a client-focused mobile phone solution. The toolkit:

• Presents data from our pilot and scaled implementation 
• Summarizes our theory-based approach to developing and adapting messages 
• Provides sample messages
• Offers cost-analysis insight into financing models for SMS-based services 

The m4RH service has more than 300,000 users in Tanzania alone. It reaches large numbers of men and youth, key audiences for family planning and reproductive health programs, and it has demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect on family planning knowledge among users. 

FHI 360 has adapted and implemented this service in Uganda and several other countries. We are pleased that five other organizations, including Chat Salud and mCenas, have used the m4RH content to build their own innovative mobile phone services.

Organizations may adapt m4RH to meet their own unique needs through a simple license agreement. Email [email protected] to learn more.

---

Photo credit: FHI 360