November 2012 in Review
 | In The Spotlight Coalition announces LAPTOP scholars Two applicants have been awarded the Coalition’s recently-advertised LAPTOP scholarships to further their knowledge of supply chain management. Kossivi Afanvi from Togo and Simplice Kamdem from Cameroon share a deep commitment to improving reproductive health in their region. Dr. Afanvi is a physician, public health economist, and manager specializing in maternal and child health. His duties as health district manager give him an overview of the supply challenges particular to his region. He will study toward Certification in Supply Chain Management. Mr. Kamdem is technical advisor for commodities at USAID/PEPFAR in Côte d’Ivoire and knows first-hand how devastating a long drawn-out stockout can be on the community. He will pursue a Master degree in Humanitarian Logistics and Management. These scholarships were awarded by the the Coalition Secretariat using the proceeds of PATH’s Vision Award, given to the Coalition this year for outstanding internal programme performance. It invited candidates wishing to pursue a course listed in LAPTOP, the Coalition’s online database of supply chain courses. |
 | Coalition on the scene AccessRH ships Microgynon and Microlut orders from inventory Added to the AccessRH catalogue in June this year, Microgynon and Microlut have been shipped out for the first time from inventory. A US$ 6 million order of Microgynon for the Philippines was the first order to result from a letter of credit. AccessRH continues to grow in leaps and bounds. In the first three quarters of 2012, AccessRH served 51% more clients than over the same period last year. The value of orders has jumped from US$ 4.3 million to US$ 9.5 million and AccessRH sent 53% more shipments this year than last. For more information, contact Campbell Bright. |
| Implanon Initiative triggers $15 million in savings A joint initiative between the Coalition and Merck/MSD has increased access to IMPLANON (etonogestrel implant) by millions of women worldwide. This joint approach was forged between the Coalition and MSD/Merck in June 2011 and IMPLANON has been made available at its lowest access price in sub-Saharan Africa, and in all other low- and lower middle-income countries with maternal mortality ratios of >200. The joint goal was to provide 4.5 million units of IMPLANON by December 2012 and the culmination of this initiative has triggered a retro-active rebate on the price of IMPLANON. The cost savings of this are more than US$ 15 million. |
| Moses Muwonge elected new RMA co-leader This month, the Coalition welcomes Moses Muwonge as new co-Leader of the Resource Mobilization and Awareness Group (RMA WG). Mr. Muwonge has more than 15 years’ experience in reproductive health commodity security having worked in Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and the Sudan Republic. He combines technical skills in supply chain management with advocacy experience gleaned from working in the UNFPA Uganda country office. He has wide knowledge of commodity security in the Global South and is a key technical resource within the Coalition. He will lead the RMA WG with Leo Bryant. The Coalition wishes to thank former Leader Martin Ninsiima for his dedicated service and support. |
| PPMR casts a wider net from new online home A high-profile presence on the Coalition’s website will allow the Procurement Planning and Monitoring Report (PPMR) to attract feedback and usage from a wider base of participants. The PPMR reports on current stock levels of contraceptives in approximately 30 countries around the world. These data are used by the Coalition’s CARhs Group to prevent or address stockouts at national level. Once available only to CARHs members, the new online PPMR database provides CARhs, reporting countries, and other interested parties with access to current and historical stock level data, and enables them to filter data and produce reports on demand. Since implementation, data are being contributed directly from Ministries of Health (especially in West and Central Africa), and in multiple languages. Funded by USAID and implemented by the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, the system was designed collaboratively by USAID, UNFPA, and the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT. |
| Female condom film competition – cash and Kuala Lumpur screening An international film competition promises to boost the profile of female condoms – a promising but still poorly understood contraceptive. The contest calls for creative and compelling stories to explain why the world needs female condoms and how they can change lives. Filmmakers of all levels of experience are invited to enter for cash prizes and a screening of the winning film at the Women Deliver 2013 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The contest closes on 1 March 2013 and the contest website gives details. |
| Coalition welcomes eight members in November This brings the Coalition’s total membership up to 211.
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| Highlights from the Working Groups Total Market Initiative Primer released This newly-launched tool assists government leaders to achieve long term family planning sustainability through a broad-based market approach, and to expand the government’s role from primary service provider to supporter and coordinator of all family planning providers. The Coalition’s Market Development Approaches Working Group (MDA WG) recently released the Total Market Initiative Primer documenting total market initiative (TMI) experiences in different countries. A TMI in RH is a process in which suppliers and financers from across sectors develop a common strategic framework for maximizing use of RH products and services. |
| LAC Forum looks ahead to next five years Earlier this month in Panama, members of the LAC Forum Steering Committee joined with a select group of resource persons to reflect upon the Forum’s work to date and to identify challenges and new opportunities for addressing commodity security in the region. Hosted by UNFPA, this two-day event saw the Steering Committee make a number of notable decisions and outcomes:
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| RMA Working Group and +2015 Workstream The Resource Mobilization and Awareness Working Group (RMA WG) +2015 Workstream has concentrated effortsso that the RH supplies community has an impact on the post-MDG development framework currently underway. Partners have, at their disposal, a raft of messages to use in global and national level consultations, not only on health, but also population and development, education, and inequalities. For more information please contact Sarah Shaw. Within this context, the deadline for papers contributing to the Health Consultation has been extended to 30 December 2012. View the Call for Papers online. |
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Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
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