The work of the Coalition builds on years of effort by the international development community to ensure that men and women in the developing world can obtain, choose, and use the reproductive health (RH) supplies they want and need. This effort has seen the establishment of Working Groups on Reproductive Health Commodity Security, the 2001 Istanbul Conference on Meeting the Supply Challenge, and the Supply Initiative, many of whose key players remain active within the Coalition to this day.
In building on this experience, and in forging a common solution to the supply challenge, the Coalition can point to a number of accomplishments, most notably the following:
- Provided instant access to critical procurement data on more than half of donor-funded supply shipments to developing countries through the web-based RHInterchange
- Averted national stock-outs of injectables and condoms through the intervention of the Countries-at-Risk group
- Secured commitment by member organizations to encourage their suppliers of RH products to participate in the WHO/UN Prequalification Programme and submit dossiers (October 2006 Membership Meeting in Bonn)
- Leveraged and mobilized over US $15 million for studies to better define problems and possible solutions for pilot activities, general support, and RH supplies
- Worked to ensure the inclusion of RH supplies in the “Maputo Plan of Action to Expand Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Africa,” as adopted by the Special Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health in September 2006
- Increased awareness of RH supply problems and formulated feasible solutions by supporting studies to: reduce the volatility of RH supplies funding and lower prices for donors and country programmes; assess the potential of generic and “southern” manufacturers to expand their markets; assess options for prequalification of RH supplies; and guide the development of sustainable market development approaches
