Engaging the Private Sector in Turkey: Can Public/Private Partnerships Help Achieve Contraceptive Security?

From 1988 to 2002, USAID supported a number of initiatives designed to increase the provision of contraceptive methods through the private sector. These initiatives included social marketing programs through the Social Marketing for Change (SOMARC) project and public/private workshops on contraceptive self-reliance through the POLICY project. The purpose of this case study is to document the impact of partnerships with the private sector beyond graduation from donor funding. The lessons learned in Turkey are expected to help design interventions that can maximize both financial sustainability and long-term impact, two necessary conditions for achieving contraceptive security. The study found that the long-term impact of partnerships with the private sector is largely determined by their compatibility with the goals of partnering organizations. It was also found that creating long-term demand for new methods requires sustained marketing efforts focusing on both consumers and providers and that unfavorable policies toward the private sector can undermine the impact of social marketing partnerships. Finally, partnerships with the private sector can help increase contraceptive security and this role can be maximized through better coordination with policy activities.