In the context of a health commodity distribution system, the focus of many programs is often on how to obtain enough resources to sustain the supply of commodities. Therefore, financing often becomes the main subject of advocacy efforts. But, the regular supply of essential products depends on much more than adequate financing—the right policies, systems, and procedures must also be in place for the system to function. Advocacy for commodity security (CS) is necessary to keep the concept and direction of CS in focus for all sectors of the health system. It is the effort needed to make policy makers, key government officials, local leaders, and donors aware of CS as a priority and to ensure their eventual commitment and leadership.

To find out more visit the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition advocacy page.

Regional Forums for Contraceptive Security Advocacy

Despite the diversity of conditions within countries in a region that may affect the implementation of CS, opportunities for experience, information, and resource sharing remains a critical element in CS advocacy. The USAID | DELIVER PROJECT continues to provide support for such forums. For example, for health sector reform in the LAC region, experience sharing about different approaches has been an important element in achieving and maintaining progress toward CS. Two project reports on the decentralization and integration of contraceptive logistics systems in LAC helped guide an eight-country regional interactive workshop in 2007, with the intent to operationalize decentralization and integration reforms within the logistics systems. The project also helped organize several high-profile events, including the State of the Practice: Contraceptive Security in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Washington, D.C., in 2006. The event presented common findings across countries and recommendations that merited investment at the country and regional level to ensure future contraceptive security.

Experience Sharing for Global Contraceptive Security Advocacy

The USAID | DELIVER PROJECT participated in the 2007 USAID-sponsored technical meeting, Scaling-up High Impact Family Planning, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (FP/MNCH) Best Practices: Achieving Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Near East. The objective of the conference was to share state-of-the-art evidence-based interventions to save women, newborn, and children’s lives in Latin America, Indonesia, and Bangladesh to advance CS. Global and country examples demonstrated different approaches taken to strengthen CS and the supply chain. For example, Latin America illustrated how CS was achieved through integration strategies and increased government commitment in light of donor phaseout. In Asia, Bangladesh presented successes and challenges in strengthening and streamlining procurement of contraceptives, while Indonesia provided insight toward CS in a decentralized setting. Jordan presented an approach of how collaboration between different partners and the government institutionalized contraceptive security. WHO/UNFPA and international partners addressed how collaboration can improve access to quality essential reproductive health medicines and commodities.