An investment case for reducing unmet need for family planning and improving maternal health outcomes in Gabon

This study presents an investment case for reducing unmet need for family planning and improving maternal health outcomes in Gabon between 2025 and 2030. Using the Spectrum software suite and a bottom-up costing approach, four scenarios were modelled to estimate financial requirements, health impacts, and socioeconomic returns from scaling up family planning, periconceptual, and maternal health interventions. Results show that scaling up services generates substantial health and economic gains while reducing overall system costs through lower demand for emergency obstetric care. Under the most ambitious scenario, scale-up could avert more than 15,000 unintended pregnancies, over 340 maternal deaths, and more than 2,100 child deaths, generating USD 793 million in socioeconomic benefits and a benefit-cost ratio of 63:1. Failure to scale up could result in losses of up to USD 780 million. Although short-term financing gaps remain, domestic revenue mobilisation, efficiency gains, and innovative financing mechanisms could support sustainable implementation and strengthen long-term human capital development.