Reproductive health commodity security (RHCS) exists when every person is able to choose, obtain, and use quality contraceptives and other essential reproductive health products whenever they need them.
The ability to CHOOSE underlines the importance of providing the client with the information they need to make an informed choice. It is predicated on a range of family planning methods being available, as well as accurate information and an absence of provider bias.
The ability to OBTAIN requires that the right quantities of the right product are available to the customer at the right time, in the right place, in the right condition, and at the right price.
The ability to USE is another signal that commodity security is a customer-focused, not a product-focused, concept. It only exists when clients are able to correctly use the products they have chosen, to their maximum benefit and effect. Commodity security came from a growing realization that, alone, strong supply chains cannot ensure availability of, and access to, reproductive health commodities. Also required are strong national leadership, sufficient financing, supportive policies and regulations, active coordination among partners, and adequate service delivery. Countries working toward strengthening RHCS face many challenges, which may include—
a growing demand for contraceptives and other essential reproductive health products
insufficient commodity financing
limited client access to reproductive health commodities
poorly coordinated activities among key stakeholders
weak or inadequate logistics systems
policy barriers to client access.
To help countries address these challenges—directing their resources to ensure the availability of health commodities for customers—the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT undertakes policy and advocacy activities that encourage and support host country governments, funding partners, and cooperating agencies. The project’s policy and advocacy activities include—
advocating for commodity security and strengthening enabling environments
creating an understanding of the importance of policy, coordination, commitment, and financing along with the critical role logistics plays in health programs to achieve RHCS
diversifying and expanding the financial base
coordinating stakeholder, donor, and global initiatives to facilitate greater partnership and avoid duplication of efforts
ensuring that the role of private and nongovernmental sectors is considered and stakeholders are engaged.
Specific aspects of the project’s policy and advocacy efforts include—
developing tools, approaches, and methodologies to strengthen commodity security
applying analytic studies on topics relevant to commodity security and logistics management, such as market segmentation, financial analysis, and ability-to-pay studies
making technical presentations on health sector reform, contraceptive logistics, and the commodity security framework
building local capacity and global awareness by applying commodity security tools and resources through a training module
continuing to advocate and collaborate with global partners, such as the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, U.N. agencies, donors, and regional institutions, in providing technical assistance and support to strengthen contraceptive security.
