To facilitate the contraceptive security (CS) process and assist countries in addressing reproductive health commodity security (RHCS)—which exists when all people are able to choose, obtain, and use quality contraceptives and other essential reproductive health products whenever they need them—the project, with USAID, the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, UNFPA, and other partners and technical agencies, have developed a unique tool called the Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security (SPARHCS—pronounced sparks).
The SPARHCS tool is a—
framework, to help stakeholders understand the range of elements required to create an effective approach to achieving RHCS
diagnostic guide to help countries and programs assess their level of commodity security and help determine a strategy
process to facilitate a coordinated effort and strategically organize the effort needed to strengthen commodity security.
The tool is used to help a country identify and prioritize key CS issues, assess current capacity for CS among country or regional programs, systems, and policies, and help shape subsequent CS strategic plans. The SPARHCS framework identifies six key interrelated concepts involved in RHCS that include—
Context—political, economic, social, and cultural
Commitment—policy support of government and partners, including civil society
Capital—sources of financing whether government, donors, households or third parties, funding gaps, or commitments
Coordination—between various stakeholders, including the different sectors
Capacity—whether in the supply chain, service delivery, or monitoring and evaluation
Clients—current and future use, including unmet need.
In addition, a seventh cross-cutting component, commodities, which addresses the actual commodities, where they come from, who procures them, how their quality is assured, and so on, is added to give us the so-called “Seven Cs” of RHCS. In strengthening commodity security, it is important to consider all related areas and cross-cutting issues. See a visual representation of these issues in the Reproductive Health Commodity Security Framework below.
SPARHCS assessments have been carried out in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America/Caribbean, and Eurasia.
Download or view a brief article describing the SPARHCS in detail.
Download or view SPARHCS: A Tool for Assessment, Planning, and Implementation from the Maximizing Access and Quality Initiative (MAQ) website: EnglishEspañolFrançais
The project developed the SPARHCS Process Guide: A Planning Resource to Improve Reproductive Health Commodity Security to inform stakeholders about the different ways they can use the SPARHCS tool as a framework to identify and prioritize key CS issues, use and adapt the diagnostic tool, and carry out a process to plan and implement CS strategic plans. The Process Guide provides real world examples and options on how to use the program planning cycle to begin and manage the SPARHCS process—which is the set of activities from awareness raising and diagnosis, to monitoring the effectiveness of a funded and implemented strategic plan. The Process Guide is intended for use by program managers, consultants, and technical assistance providers to assist them in carrying out the SPARHCS process.
Download or view the SPARHCS Process Guide: A Planning Resource to Improve Reproductive Health Commodity Security from the Maximizing Access and Quality Initiative (MAQ) website: EnglishEspañolFrançais
In January of 2004, USAID released Contraceptive Security Ready Lessons, a series of booklets suggesting some practical steps and strategies USAID Missions and their partners can take to promote and support country-led programs for contraceptive security.
In September 2008, USAID released a follow up series of booklets that builds on Ready Lessons I to provide strategies and activities which, when implemented successfully, can significantly improve access to the contraceptive methods people want. While Ready Lessons I introduced the fundamentals of programming for contraceptive Security, Ready Lessons II shows how to apply these basics in the context of a rapidly changing health environment..
Download or view the Ready Lessons I from the Maximizing Access and Quality Initiative (MAQ) website: EnglishEspañolFrançais
Download or view the Ready Lessons II from the Maximizing Access and Quality Initiative (MAQ) website: EnglishEspañolFrançais
And, for a closer look at the elements and concepts of the CS process, view the Commodity Security Training presentation, which was held in January 2004.
Additional Analytical Tools: LIAT and LSAT Two analytical tools, the Logistics Information Assessment Tool (LIAT) and the Logistics System Assessment Tool (LSAT) can be used, in addition to the SPARHCS diagnostic tool. The project developed these tools to help program managers assess the strengths and weaknesses of a commodity logistics system. The LIAT, a standardized quantitative assessment instrument, measures product availability. The LSAT, a qualitative, diagnostic, and monitoring instrument, provides an overall picture of the strengths and weaknesses of a logistics system and identifies issues and opportunities. The LSAT includes a component that examines specific CS concerns.
