When people are forced to flee due to conflict or natural disasters, reproductive health (RH) needs are often a forgotten part of the emergency response, even though the needs are very high. Family planning, in particular is often not seen as a priority and many humanitarian agencies do not include RH supplies in their supply chains. Systems Strengthening Working Group member Marie Stopes International developed a The Reproductive Health Access Information and Services Initiative (RAISE), a joint program with the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University which aims to catalyze change in the way in which reproductive health is addressed from the outset of an emergency. Bringing together service delivery agencies and advocacy partners, RAISE is working to improve access to reproductive health services in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia and to influence the policy environment at international and national levels.

Marie Stopes International and the RAISE Initiative received an Innovation Fund award to examine the supply chain for three different projects supporting the provision of reproductive health services in emergency settings. Results will be used to identify appropriate action at the international, national and local levels, which might include increasing technical knowledge of supply chain management, advocacy towards key RH actors to ensure supplies reach conflict affected settings, or the creation of easy to use tools for humanitarian NGOs looking to implement RH programs in conflict settings.  

More information on this Innovation Fund project can be found here. For further information on the SSWG's work in RH in emergency settings, please contact Maaike van Min of Marie Stopes International, or David Smith, SSWG Leader.