|
Tools to Help Countries Manage their Own Supplies
One of UNFPA’s most important functions in ensuring reproductive health commodity security is building national capacity. Toward this end, the Fund has developed a number of tools, including inventories, resource guides, models for forecasting and estimating commodity needs, as well as a system to qualify and monitor manufacturers of reproductive health supplies.
Among the tools that UNFPA has developed to increase national, regional and global capacity to achieve reproductive health commodity security are:
UNFPA has developed a hi-tech, user-friendly service to help countries keep track of stocks and shipments, identify possible shortages, and replenish stockpiles to meet growing needs on a timely basis. Launched in 2003, the Country Commodity Manager (CCM) is now being used by more than 50 developing countries, and other countries are expected to take advantage of it soon. At the touch of a computer key, the system can call up displays of available stock and commodity needs. Already the software has alerted governments to -- and help them avert -- potential shortfalls.
The Futures Group, in coordination with UNFPA, is continuing to develop a suite of policy models used to project reproductive health service needs. It also offers tools to estimate the costs of not addressing those needs. SPECTRUM is an easy-to-use programme widely used for estimating family planning and HIV/AIDS trends. This tool allows countries to estimate long-term condom requirements and to plan and manage the required resources. The model also assists in advocacy, planning and resource allocation. Users include logistics advisors in the Ministries of Health and Planning and National AIDS Commissions; stakeholders involved in strategic planning and those who assist in the preparation of funding proposals.
UNFPA undertook a study in collaboration with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and others to estimate the resources needed for reproductive health commodities to ensure universal access to reproductive health services by 2015. This information will help the international community, national governments and civil society to understand the scale of the resources required and develop appropriate strategies.
UNFPA has collaborated with WHO to prepare a basic list of essential reproductive health commodities, including commodities for prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including, HIV/AIDS prevention. The list, published as a draft discussion document, will be a planning and procurement tool for UNFPA country offices and others. The Fund is also co-operating with a consortium of NGOs on the International Initiative on Reproductive Health Supplies. The consortium is setting up a web-based source for reproductive health.
The Donor Support Database for Contraceptives and Condoms for STI/HIV Prevention contains country-specific information reported by donors on the type, quantity and the total cost of contraceptives they provide to reproductive health programmes in developing countries. Based on the analysis of this data, reports are prepared on an annual base and used for contraceptive supply planning, advocacy, resource mobilization. The database is especially useful for anticipating shortfalls and changes in funding by donor and country.
- A rapid needs assessment tool for condom programming.
- Role of the Logistics Manager in Contraceptive Procurement: A Checklist of Essential Actions.
- Global Estimates of Contraceptive Commodities and Condoms for STI/HIV Prevention 2000-2015.
- Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations: Interagency Field Manual.
- A training module is being developed in collaboration with USAID that will help Country Support Technical Teams to conduct regional logistics training workshops.
 Back to top
|
