Policy Papers

Accurately Forecasting Contraceptive Needs: Levels, Trends, and Determinants (1,353 KB)
English   
Author(s): Ali Mehryar Karim
Date of Publication 2007
This study examines the accuracy of the contraceptive forecasting processes of 81 family planning programs in 30 developing countries using time-series records between 1994 and 2005 on past contraceptive consumption and projected needs.

AI Commodity Distribution from May 2007- September 2007 (1,853 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2007
Map displaying the distribution of avian influenza commodities from May 2007 to September 2007.

AI Commodity Distribution March 2007 (551 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2007
Map displaying the distribution of avian influenza commodities from 2005 to 2007, current as of March 2007.

Analysis of the Operational Policy Barriers to Financing and Procuring Contraceptives in Malawi (428 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | Health Policy Initiative, USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2008
The USAID | Health Policy Initiative and USAID | DELIVER Project are working together to develop a methodology for identifying operational policy barriers in the financing and procurement of family planning (FP) products. To pilot this methodology, the projects chose to conduct a study in Malawi.

Assessing Contraceptive Financing and Procurement Policies in Malawi (306 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, USAID | Health Policy Initiative
Date of Publication 2010
To assist countries to adapt to this new policy environment, a new publication titled Assessing Policies and Practices That Affect Contraceptive Financing and Procurement: A Review Guide was prepared by the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, Task Order 1, and the USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1. The assessment guide is a diagnostic and monitoring tool that explains how to conduct the assessment and provides sample assessment questions and resource materials. This case study highlights the application of the guide in Malawi.

Commodity Security for Essential Medicines: Challenges and Opportunities (2,180 KB)
English   
Author(s): Raja Rao
Date of Publication 2008
Concept paper examining the inputs, variables and opportunities for commodity security of essential medicines.

Consequence of Success: The Issue of Contraceptive Security in Bangladesh—A Discussion Paper (361 KB)
English   
Author(s): Tony Hudgins
Date of Publication 2002
This paper explores the challenges to long-term contraceptive availability posed by Bangladesh's highly successful family planning program. Used by policymakers as the foundation for a national strategy, it identifies opportunities for improving the situation through changes in financing, method mix, and the logistics system.

Contraceptive Forecasting Accuracy: Trends and Determinants (934 KB)
English   
Author(s): Ali Mehryar Karim, Karen Ampeh, Lois Todhunter
Date of Publication 2004
This study examines the accuracy of the contraceptive forecasts contained in the Contraceptive Procurement Table (CPT) database, which is maintained by JSI/DELIVER to evaluate the quality of the forecasting process, to assess the utility of the forecasts in procurement planning, and to monitor and evaluate project progress.

Contraceptive Security in Bolivia: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses (772 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2003
In December 2003, DELIVER and Policy II conducted a contraceptive security assessment in Bolivia. This summary report presents findings, recommended strategies, and next steps for improving contraceptive security in Bolivia.

Contraceptive Security in Honduras: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses (535 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2004
In April 2004, DELIVER and Policy II conducted a contraceptive security assessment in Honduras. This summary report presents findings, recommended strategies, and next steps for improving contraceptive security in Honduras.

Contraceptive Security in Nicaragua: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses (585 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2004
In February 2004, DELIVER and Policy II conducted a contraceptive security assessment in Nicaragua. This summary report presents findings, recommended strategies, and next steps for improving contraceptive security in Nicaragua.

Contraceptive Security in Paraguay: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses (740 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2004
In March 2004, DELIVER and Policy II conducted a contraceptive security assessment in Paraguay. This summary report presents findings, recommended strategies, and next steps for improving contraceptive security in Paraguay.

Contraceptive Security in Peru: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses (531 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2003
In September 2003, DELIVER and Policy II conducted a contraceptive security assessment in Peru. This summary report presents findings, recommended strategies, and next steps for improving contraceptive security in Peru.

Contraceptive Security: Practical Experience in Improving Global, Regional, National, and Local Product Availability (2,272 KB)
English   
Author(s): David Sarley, Raja Rao, Carolyn Hart, Leslie Patykewich, Paul Dowling, Wendy Abramson, Chris Wright, Nadia Olson, Marie Tien
Date of Publication 2006
This report documents the progress made in improving contraceptive security. It documents the lessons learned in increasing and diversifying contraceptive finance; understanding and expanding the total market; and working with the public, private, and NGO sectors to improve service delivery and product availability. It also describes different regional initiatives adopted in Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe; and it identifies new challenges countries face around procurement and donor coordination and how these challenges have been addressed.

Customs Clearance Issues Related to the Import of Goods for Public Health Programs (1,321 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2009
Customs clearance procedures, regulated by recipient country governments, may change over time and can be quite complex. Failure by importers to master local customs clearance procedures, or customs procedures that are themselves prone to breakdowns, may cause long delivery delays, stock shortages, and even stockouts.

Decentralizing and Integrating Contraceptive Logistics Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Considerations for Informed Decision Making throughout the Health Reform Process (530 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): Anabella Sánchez, Wendy Abramson, Nadia Olson, and Nora Quesada
Date of Publication 2006
This paper highlights key considerations for policymakers in ministries of health and decision makers from the international donor community for prioritizing supply chain management throughout the health reform process—primarily when decentralizing and/or integrating the public health system.

Decentralizing and Integrating Contraceptive Logistics Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, With Lessons Learned from Asia and Africa (2,818 KB)
English   
Author(s): Alix Beith, Nora Quesada, Wendy Abramson, Anabella Sánchez, Nadia Olson
Date of Publication 2007
This paper, which builds on several previous documents produced by DELIVER, is an overview of key issues and lessons that LAC countries and countries in Asia and Africa have learned during the process of integration and decentralization.

DELIVER: Final Project Report (11,943 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2007
USAID funded the DELIVER project from 2000 through 2006. Implemented by John Snow Inc., the overarching aim of the project was to improve commodity security for health products in the public sector in developing countries.

Diagnóstico de la Disponibilidad Asegurada de Insumos Anticonceptivos en Guatemala: Fortalezas y Retos de los Servicios de Planificación Familiar en Guatemala (4,022 KB)
Español   
Author(s): Wendy Abramson, Anabella Sánchez, Nadia Olson
Date of Publication 2006
Este estudio sobre la “Disponibilidad Asegurada de Insumos Anticonceptivos” (DAIA) en Guatemala, realizado por el proyecto DELIVER y financiado por la USAID/Oficina Global de Salud para Latinoamérica y El Caribe (LAC), se enmarca en la iniciativa regional para documentar la forma en que los países latinoamericanos están afrontando el reto de la sostenibilidad en la provisión de anticonceptivos. (This publication is only available in Spanish.)

Ecuador: Diagnóstico Sobre La Disponibilidad Asegurada De Insumos Anticonceptivos (DAIA) (3,484 KB)
Español   
Author(s): Bernardo Uribe, Nora Quesada, Sharon Soper, Juan Agudelo, Lino Martinez
Date of Publication 2006
Este estudio sobre la “Disponibilidad Asegurada de Insumos Anticonceptivos” (DAIA) en Ecuador, realizado por el proyecto DELIVER y financiado por USAID/Ecuador, se enmarca en la iniciativa regional para documentar cómo están afrontando los países latinoamericanos el reto de sostenibilidad en la provisión de anticonceptivos. (This publication is only available in Spanish.)

Ensuring Reproductive Health Commodity Security within a Sector Wide Approach (895 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2008
Under a SWAp, a single government-led sector plan and expenditure program is supported by development partners involved in that sector (health or education, for example). All sector participants work to adopt common technical goals; and to harmonize monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and procurement systems.

Equity of Family Planning in Developing Countries (503 KB)
English   
Author(s): Ali Karim, David Sarley, David O’Brien, Dana Aronovich, Leslie Patykewich, Nora Quesada, Patricia Taylor
Date of Publication 2004
Presented at the 11th Canadian Conference on International Health, this paper examines the distribution of family planning resources and contraceptive prevalence across socioeconomic groups. It provides country examples with current status by wealth quintile, offers strategies to address inequities to ensure access for the poor, and outlines lessons learned.

Estimating the Global In-Country Supply Chain Costs of Meeting the MDGs by 2015 (514 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2009
This concept note outlines a costing model, cites available information sources, and identifies data gaps for estimating globally the in-country supply chain costs to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Estudios de caso: la Disponibilidad Asegurada de Insumos Anticonceptivos en Institutos de Seguridad Social en Cinco Países de América Latina: Avances en el Acceso a Servicios e Insumos de Planificación Familiar (1,764 KB)
Español   
Author(s): Anabella Sánchez, Wendy B. Abramson, Nora Quesada
Date of Publication 2008
En este documento se examinan los modelos que han implementado los institutos de seguridad social de cinco países en América Latina: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, y México, quienes han desarrollado intervenciones y políticas para avanzar en la disponibilidad asegurada de insumos anticonceptivos. También se incluyó el Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social (IMSS), por los logros que ha mantenido después de graduarse en la ayuda de donantes hace aproximadamente diez años. (This publication is only available in Spanish.)

Ghana: Decentralization and the Health Logistics Systems (1,071 KB)
English   
Author(s): Thomas Bossert, Diana Bowser, Johnnie Amenyah, Rebecca Copeland
Date of Publication 2004
This study, designed by DELIVER and the Harvard School of Public Health, assessed the impact of decentralization on the performance of health logistics systems in Ghana.

Guatemala: Decentralization and Integration in the Health Logistics System (1,830 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): Thomas Bossert, Ph.D. and Diana Bowser, M.P.H. (Harvard School of Public Health), Johnnie Amenyah and Rebecca Copeland (John Snow Inc./DELIVER), Management and Technology in Health
Date of Publication 2003
Examines sectoral reform in Guatemala that began in 1996 with the Health Services Improvement Program. The goals of the reform included expanding health coverage with an emphasis on populations that lack access and increasing the level of public expenditure. Another key objective was to develop a new health care model based on decentralization, a basic services package, and community participation.

HIV/AIDS Commodity Security: Supply Chain Management Implications for HIV/AIDS Policymakers and Program Managers (903 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2004
This 8-page policy brief explains supply chain management implications for HIV/AIDS policy makers and program managers.

Implications of Health Sector Reform for Contraceptive Logistics: A Preliminary Assessment for Sub-Saharan Africa (928 KB)
English   
Author(s): James Bates, Yasmin Chandani, Kathryn Crowley, John Durgavich, Sandhya Rao
Date of Publication 2000
This paper synthesizes the results of country studies carried out to assess the impact of health sector reform on public sector contraceptive logistics systems in four sub-Saharan Africa countries (Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania).

Influence of Family Planning Logistics Systems on Contraceptive Use (A Working Paper) (230 KB)
English   
Author(s): Ali Mehryar Karim
Date of Publication 2005
This study examines the influence of family planning logistics system performance on contraceptive use. The performance of logistics systems in 17 countries was assessed in 1995 and 1999 using an index constructed from 17 items.

Logistical Challenge: Ensuring Access to ARVs for Kids (187 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2005
Describes the role of logistics in treating children with HIV and the challenges of ensuring access to ARVs for kids.

Measuring Family Planning Logistics System Performance in Developing Countries: Working Paper (2,518 KB)
English   
Author(s): Ali Mehryar Karim, Briton Bieze, Jaya Chimnani
Date of Publication 2008
This study describes the LSAT and assesses its reliability and validity.

Options for Contraceptive Procurement: Lessons Learned from Latin America and the Caribbean (1,358 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): David Sarley, Varuni Dayaratna, Wendy Abramson, Jay Gribble, Nora Quesada, Nadia Olson, Verónica Siman Betancourt
Date of Publication 2006
This report analyzes the legal and regulatory framework in each of nine focus countries that may affect future procurement of contraceptive commodities, as well as the current policy environments of five USAID “graduated” countries that are now procuring contraceptives without foreign assistance.

Process Mapping for Improved Health Logistics System Performance (306 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2005
This paper explains how and why process mapping is used; explains process mapping within the context of logistics systems re-engineering; and describes the workflow data collection, charting, and analysis process.

Procurement Strategies for Health Commodities: An Examination of Options and Mechanisms within the Commodity Security Context (1,996 KB)
English   
Author(s): Raja Rao, Peter Mellon, David Sarley
Date of Publication 2006
For program managers, technical assistance providers, donors, and policymakers, this paper describes the key elements of a procurement management system for health commodities—from product selection through the bid management process to the receipt of goods—and the type of human and organizational capacities needed to carry out these functions. The analysis also examines the range of available purchasing and financing strategies and options to support and strengthen health commodity supply chains.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 1 (450 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes how supply chain improvement benefits family planning programs.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 2 (498 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes how to win and maintain policy support for supply chain improvements.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 3 (432 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes the importance of the customer as the ultimate beneficiary of supply chain management.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 4 (754 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes the use of performance improvement of people and organizations to strengthen supply chains.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 5 (745 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes the role of logistics management information systems to track the flow of products to customers.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 6 (290 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes the role of forecasting and procurement to ensure timely availability of products.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 7 (587 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes the role of distribution systems in delivering products to customers.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 8 (375 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes how to transform a supply chain from as-is to a more customer-focused, agile, and responsive system.

Programs That Deliver: Chapter 9 (512 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Describes global trends affecting public sector supply chain management.

Programs That Deliver: Logistics' Contributions to Better Health in Developing Countries (Entire publication) (5,046 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Aimed at policymakers and program managers, Programs That Deliver describes why developing country health and family planning programs cannot succeed without a strong supply chain. This is a "ZIP" file.

Programs That Deliver: Title, Executive Summary, Glossary (1,440 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2000
Aimed at policymakers and program managers, Programs That Deliver describes why developing country health and family planning programs cannot succeed without a strong supply chain.

Promoting Contraceptive Security through Innovative Health System Interventions (292 KB)
English   
Author(s): David Sarley, Daniel Thompson, Todd Dickens, Raja Rao, Tony Hudgins
Date of Publication 2005
This paper, presented at the 2005 Global Health Conference in Washington, D.C., describes interventions that are strengthening national health systems' ability to increase contraceptive security in more than 20 countries, through improvements in procurement and financing, and innovative decentralization.

Regional Contraceptive Security Report: Latin America and the Caribbean (1,600 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): DELIVER and POLICY II
Date of Publication 2004
This report presents findings and recommendations resulting from contraceptive security assessments conducted from September 2003–May 2004 in Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru and from secondary data analyses conducted for El Salvador and Guatemala.

Regulatory Harmonization in Central America: How Harmonization Can Impact Regional Contraceptive Procurement (638 KB)
English    Español   
Author(s): Beith, Alix, Nadia Olson, and Wendy Abramson.
Date of Publication 2007
This paper discusses how, in practice, the harmonization of regulatory and procurement functions can facilitate pooled procurement as well as expand the number of contraceptive procurement options available to these countries.

Reproductive Health Commodity Security for Improved Maternal and Child Health (1,269 KB)
English    Français   
Author(s): Meba Kagone, Lisa Hare, David O'Brien, Dana Aronovich, Aoua Diarra
Date of Publication 2003
This document summarizes the relationship between maternal health and reproductive health commodity security, the current state of commodity security in the sub-region, and several options for strengthening commodity security to support maternal health.

Reproductive Health Commodity Security Strategy for the West Africa Subregion (810 KB)
English    Français   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2006
This document demonstrates that the increased use of reproductive health (RH) products can reduce maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity, which supports the West African Health Organization’s (WAHO) maternal health objectives.

República Dominicana: Diagnóstico Sobre La Disponibilidad Asegurada De Insumos Anticonceptivos (DAIA) (1,599 KB)
Español   
Author(s): Juan Agudelo, Erin Hasselberg, Ramón Orlando Jiménez, Eleodoro Pérez Sierra, Viriato Acosta
Date of Publication 2006
El diagnóstico de DAIA en República Dominicana ha sido realizado por iniciativa del Consejo Nacional de Población y Familia y del comité de Disponibilidad Asegurada de Insumos Anticonceptivos, con el apoyo técnico de USAID, como parte del estudio sobre la viabilidad de la DAIA en Latinoamérica y el Caribe (LAC). (This publication is only available in Spanish.)

Supply Chain Strengthening as a Pathway to Improving Laboratory Services (1,092 KB)
English   
Author(s): USAID | DELIVER PROJECT
Date of Publication 2009
For years, public sector laboratory networks in developing countries have been severely neglected in terms of human and financial resources and infrastructure. Investing in laboratory supply chains provides a practical approach to improving overall laboratory services.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Country Assessment Report: Burkina Faso (1,119 KB)
English   
Author(s): Meba Kagone, Eric Takang, Antoine Ndiaye, Olga Sankara, Ernest Ouédraogo
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of reproductive health commodity security in Burkina Faso.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Economic Community of West African States Trade and Economic Integration (485 KB)
English   
Author(s): David Sarley
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of opportunities for reproductive health commodity security through the integration of ECOWAS countries.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Encouraging Greater Private Sector Participation (813 KB)
English   
Author(s): Paul Dowling
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of the private sector in the provision of reproductive health commodities in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Ghana RHCS Country Assessment (262 KB)
English   
Author(s): Johnnie Amenyah, Raja Rao, Erin Shea, Mohammed Oubnichou, Alex Nazzar, Gifty Addico
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of reproductive health commodity security in Ghana.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Local Manufacturing (260 KB)
English   
Author(s): Paul Dowling
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of local manufacturing of reproductive health commodities in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Logistics System Capacity in West Africa (432 KB)
English   
Author(s): Aoua Diarra
Date of Publication 2005
An analysis of reproductive health logistics system capacity in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Regional Financing Gap (199 KB)
English   
Author(s): DELIVER
Date of Publication 2005
Describes the financing gap for reproductive health commodities in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Regional Reproductive Health Policy (314 KB)
English   
Author(s): Meba Kagone
Date of Publication 2005
Describes the reproductive health policy environment in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Reproductive Health Commodity Pricing: Potential Benefits (498 KB)
English   
Author(s): Raja Rao
Date of Publication 2005
Price comparison of reproductive health commodities to determine the potential benefits of bulk purchasing in West Africa.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security: Review of Pooled Procurement (659 KB)
English   
Author(s): Hany Abdallah
Date of Publication 2005
Literature review of pooled procurement options.

West Africa Reproductive Health Commodity Security Sub-Regional Strategy: A Concept Paper (531 KB)
English    Français   
Author(s): Raja Rao, Dana Aronovich
Date of Publication 2005
Maternal and infant health indicators in the countries of the West African sub-region tend to remain weak, although they are comparable to other developing countries. The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and its partners recognize the seriousness of the gaps in access to and the quality of maternal and perinatal health services in the sub-region. To address these challenges, they developed a Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Maternal and Perinatal Mortality in West Africa.