PROJECT BACKGROUND
 
In key marine biodiversity areas (MKBAs) of the country, the threat of demographic factors on the diversity and productivity of marine ecosystems and the sustainability of conservation gains are highest. USAID/ BALANCED is a global project to advance and support results- oriented population, health, environment (PHE) field approaches in biodiversity-rich marine areas. BALANCED Philippines aims to empower communities in target marine areas to meet their expressed need for voluntary FP services and information and educate them on the underlying linkages between reducing population pressure and improving the sustainability of coastal resources. Based on successful integrated PHE projects, the project will also create, through policymakers at all levels of government (from the municipal to barangay to regional levels), an enabling environment that promotes the integration of PHE into governmental plans and programs.
 
BALANCED Philippines will assist 29 municipal local government units (LGUs) located in the two MKBAs, reach over one million people , and serve an estimated 70,000 under-served women (15-49 years) with FP methods and PHE information, improve the management of an estimated 800 hectares of marine protected areas and increase incentives for coastal and marine conservation among fisher households.
 
BALANCED is implemented by The Coastal Resources Center-University of Rhode Island (CRC-URI) in partnership with PATH Foundation Philippines Inc. (PFPI) and Conservation International (CI). Started in December 2010, the project will run through August 2013.
 
GOAL
 
To address unmet need for family planning services in targeted marine bioregions where population is identified as a threat to sustainable resource management.
 
PROJECT COMPONENTS

1. Improving community’s access to family planning/ reproductive health (FP/RH) services in key bioregions, through assistance to rural health units (RHUs) and NGOs, to enhance their knowledge and skills on FP/RH and population, health and environment (PHE) linkages, and establish alternative community-based distribution (CBD) outlets, and social marketing arrangements with municipal local government units (LGUs);
2. Increasing community awareness and support of family planning and conservation as a means to improved health and food and environmental security through recruitment and training of adult peer educators and implementation of a behavior change communication strategy;
3. Increasing local policy makers’ commitment to FP/RH services and integrated PHE policies through joint PHE orientation and planning with stakeholders, and advocacy and technical assistance for PHE activities.

 

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CONTACT INFORMATION
 
Madonna Andaya, MD
Project Manager, BALANCED Philippines
Path Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI)
10F Unit 1009 Tower 2 Citiland Condominium 10
154 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Vill., Makati City
Tel No. (632) 817-5049; Fax No. (632) 893-5360
Email: mandaya@pfpi.org
Website: http://www.pfpi.org and http://balanced.crc.uri.edu/