In 2010–2011, a pilot study approved by the Zambia Ministry of Health (MOH) was conducted in which community-based distributors provided depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) as part of their community-based family planning activities. The study was implemented by FHI 360 and ChildFund Zambia, in coordination with the ministry and with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The pilot study results show that the provision of DMPA by community-based distributors is safe, acceptable and feasible.

Based on study findings, the MOH agreed that the way forward was to:

• Continue service delivery in the pilot districts without interruption
• Revise the national health policy to allow provision of DMPA by community-based distributors
• Develop a national scale-up plan

Since 2011, FHI 360 has provided technical support to the Ministry of Health to draft a Road Map for National Scale-Up, which was endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders. With support from USAID/Zambia, FHI 360 began implementing the first phase of scale-up in collaboration with ChildFund, including:

• Continuing service delivery and expanding to new sites in three districts
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation activities
• Advancing the Road Map for National Scale-Up

To date, a total of 72 community-based distributors have been trained to administer DMPA and are bringing lifesaving family planning services closer to their communities.