As part of IPPF's Global Initiative to support member associations to be self-sufficient and sustainable, in June 2014, the Director General of IPPF called for a meeting to draft a Social Enterprise Strategy. Following the initial consultation meeting where some MAs presented their experience in social enterprise, our member association of Nigeria (PPFN) visited FPA Sri Lanka in November 2014 to learn from our successful Social Marketing program.  PPFN showed great interest in the program and the two MAs agreed to formalize partnerships. 

Reasons why FPA Sri Lanka SMP ( Social Marketing Program) model is attractive to PPFN was based on the following facts:

• FPA Sri Lanka, through the social marketing program, contributes 40% to the national CYP;
• It generates 80% of its income from the social marketing program and is the 9^th biggest contributor to IPPF Global CYP, mainly because of this program;
• FPA Sri Lanka covers almost the entire country by using only 7 vehicles and 12 marketing/sales officers.
• The National Program relies on FPA Sri Lanka for commodities.

Therefore, through financial support from IPPF Central Office, SARO(South Asia Regional office) and ARO (Africa Regional office) organized a second exchange visit from the 20-24^th of April for PPFN to visit FPA Sri Lanka Headquarters.

TheExecutive Directors of Kenya, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire joined the PPFN delegation and participated in this visit. It enabled the three MAs an opportunity to observe and learn about FPA Sri Lanka’s extensive experience in Social Marketing and explore the feasibility of replicating same in their countries. (The three Member Associations were selected because of the size and program model they are currently implementing).

The delegation also visited the Koggala SDP, a few local pharmacies and a wholesaler in Galle to study the SMP of FPA Sri Lanka. Presentations and meetings held at FPA headquarters were attended by Dr Pramilla Senanayake ( President, FPA Sri Lanka), Ms Thushara Agus (Executive Director), Mr Lasantha Gunaratne (Deputy Executive Director) Mr Suhail Junaid ( Director Marketing), Ms Madusha Dissanayake( Director HIV/AIDS and Advocacy), Mr. Chandima Gunawardena (Chairperson SMP Committee) and Mr Amila Gunasekara. ( Asst. Director Brands).