These students came up with a successful plan to improve access to birth control in Nigeria

Over the past year, Trym Braathen and Julia Kubiak worked on a research project to remove barriers to contraceptives for women in Nigeria. Both students are active members of the Positive Impact Society Erasmus, that aims to motivate students to use their skills to do something meaningful for society. They collaborated on the research project for Lafiya Nigeria, an organisation working to improve contraceptive access and educate people about family planning.

Lafiya Nigeria provides the Sayana press, a contraceptive that women can administer themselves through an injection. This helps women take control of their reproductive choices. By reducing access barriers, such as lack of knowledge, proximity to healthcare, and cost, the initiative promotes increased contraceptive use and enhances women’s autonomy.

The field work is done by the Lafiya Sisters, a dedicated group of midwives and nurses. They provide education and training to women on how to correctly use the Sayana press.

Trym and Julia stepped in to conduct research to support the organisation. A key goal of their research was to provide suggestions to improve the cost-effectiveness of the contraceptive program. “Each injection costs just 0.85 dollars to manufacture and lasts for up to three months”, explains Trym. “Empowering women to control pregnancies reduces unwanted births, lowers complications, and enables women to pursue education and careers. This, in turn, benefits children’s future opportunities and the economy, making the small investment in that injection highly worthwhile in the long run.

Misinformation about contraception is widespread, with some women fearing that the injections may cause severe side effects, such as growing extra limbs. This is fueled by the strong taboo surrounding family planning, creating an additional barrier for women to use contraception. “Education is crucial – not just for women, but also for men and religious leaders”, Julia emphasises. “Providing accurate information dispels myths and encourages acceptance.”

Although Trym and Julia did not travel to Nigeria, they maintained close contact with the Lafiya Sisters through phone calls. They explored ways to make the organisation more efficient, ensuring that Lafiya Nigeria could expand its reach and impact.

One of their most significant findings focused on enhancing the motivation of the Lafiya Sisters. “Many of them juggle full-time jobs and family responsibilities while receiving only minimal compensation’, Julia notes. “Hearing children in the background during calls was a reminder of how committed these women are.”

Julia, who studies Psychology, applied her expertise to explore non-monetary ways to boost motivation. Her recommendations included more frequent in-person meetings, additional training opportunities, and career development pathways. As a result, Lafiya Nigeria has implemented a new system to provide top-performing volunteers with greater opportunities for advancement.

Trym, who studies Economics, applied his skills to improve the organisation’s compensation model. “Previously, the system provided a fixed payment until a volunteer assisted fifty women, after which they received a slight increase. This led to decreased motivation once they hit the target”, he explains. “I proposed a tiered compensation model with more frequent increments to sustain motivation levels. A trial of this system has shown promising results.”

Both students are proud of the impact they’ve made. “I believe we’ve had a significant influence, not just on the community, but also on the Lafiya Sisters themselves. They work incredibly hard, and it’s rewarding to help them find fulfillment in their roles”, says Trym.

Julia adds: “This project has been an incredible opportunity. I applied my studies to real-world challenges and learned how small changes can lead to meaningful improvements.”

Céline Kamsteeg, co-executive director of Lafiya Nigeria, affirms the students’ impact. “We’ve seen a noticeable increase in productivity, and the Sisters are more satisfied with the compensation structure. As a result, many more women are being reached than before, which is having a profoundly positive effect on maternal healthcare.”

Although they offer advice from afar, Trym is not concerned about falling into a white saviour complex. He emphasises that their involvement was respectful and collaborative. “We’re not imposing solutions; we’re supporting local initiatives by helping women access what they want and need. The real agents of change are the local experts.”