PPD has been a long-term collaborative partner and a founding member of the RH Supply Coalition. Based on the common interest of ensuring RH supply and security in developing countries, both the organizations work in close collaboration and assist each other towards achieving their shared goals. The Coalition convened its Eighty Semi-Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC on 24-25 October 2007. While the Eighth membership meeting focused on ensuring commodity security in Latin America, the specific objectives of the membership meeting were to:

• Update members on current Coalition activities, initiatives, and developments.
• Share successes and challenges in ensuring reproductive health commodity security from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that are highly relevant for developing countries in other regions.
• Emphasize the lessons learned in LAC regarding financing mechanisms, supply chain management under health sector reform, advocacy, the private sector, reaching the underserved, and data for decision-making.

The membership meeting held in two main segments; Executive Committee Meeting and Panel discussions on different aspects of commodity supply and security issues in the Latin America. The Executive Committee Meeting reviewed the progress of the Coalition since the last meeting held in London in April 2007.

The substantive session commenced with an overview of the history of the Family Planning movement in Latin America, including its successes and challenges. Participants analyzed the roles of different sectors (government, NGO, civil society) in mobilizing and leveraging resources in the context of donor phase-out of contraceptive supplies; the importance of leadership from the Ministry of Health in creating a supportive policy environment for contraceptive security; and the value of civil society engagement in resource mobilization and policy implementation efforts.

The panellists also reviewed key considerations facing the international donor community, policymakers, family planning managers, and logistics advisors as they design and implement reforms for logistics systems functions. Participants shared the successes and challenges regarding innovative procurement agreements, use of procurement agents, and maintaining contraceptive security in integrated and decentralized logistics systems.

The “Female Condom Consortium” established in the Netherlands in May 2007 jointly by Oxfam (Novib), the World Population Foundation (WPF) and the Dutch Government was introduced to the participants. Drawing on experience derived from the introduction and distribution of the female condom, the panellists reviewed the challenges of ensuring broad method choice, innovative financing, role of women and alternative product sourcing.

[ GO TO NEWS MENU ]