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Carol S. Shepherd, ScD, MS, MS, The POLICY Project, The Futures Group International, 1050 17th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, 202-775-9680, c.shepherd@tfgi.com, Carolyn Hart, MSPH, John Snow, Inc, 1616 N. Fort Myer Drive, 11th Flooor, Arlington, VA 22209, and Susan Scribner, MPP, Commercial Market Strategies, 1001 G Street, NW, Suite 400W, Washington, DC 20001.
BACKGROUND: There are many elements involved in delivering a secure supply of reproductive health (RH) commodities to those in need. Recognizing this, USAID and UNFPA launched an initiative to engage country partners, technical agencies and other donors to define “commodity security” and to operationalize the concept. The envisioned definition of RHCS is: “…when every person is able to choose, obtain, and use contraceptives and other essential reproductive health supplies whenever she or he wants and/or needs them.” This initiative came to be called SPARHCS. The initiative developed a common framework and approach for RHCS to help developing countries design and implement a strategy to secure sufficient RH commodities that is acceptable to all and implemented by all. In so doing it minimizes duplication of effort and wastage of scarce resources. CONCLUSIONS: SPARHCS has been applied in seven countries with plans to expand to an additional 10 countries in the coming year. To date, it has resulted in a draft CS strategic plan in Nigeria, development of provincial level targeting strategies for the poor in the Philippines and Indonesia, and multi-partner initiatives that are moving toward CS plans in the other countries.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this session the participant will be able to
Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.