In light of potential donor phase out the RHInterchange provides data on not only historical data but in some cases on future, planned information for donated commodities. In these cases countries can see past and future commodity values by donor to plan for the resources they will need to fill any financing gaps when donors no longer donate commodities. The RHI website can present data graphically including by funding source. The graph below shows funding sources for each year starting in 2005 through 2009. In 2005 the two funding sources were USAID and UNFPA. In 2006 IPPF also procured contraceptives while in 2007 and 2008 DFID was the third financing source.
Data from RHI can also be exported to Excel for manipulation by the user. The user can create his or her own graphs or tables in Excel once data has been downloaded. For instance, the table below are the figures behind the above graph. The graph has been customized to show what the potential funding gap would be in 2009, illustrated by the column in yellow, if USAID were to phase out. It would be in the amount of $3.4 million dollars in contraceptives. The RHI would be able to provide a breakdown of the methods since USAID provides data on future shipments.
Funding gap
Historical commodity data is not always easy to obtain and the RHI provides information on what was spent by the three of the major procurers of contraceptives - IPPF, UNFPA, and USAID. The RHI also has data from UNFPA since 2004 when it acted as a procurement agent for another donor or country government. Similarly, the RHI has data since 2006 where Crown Agents acted as a procurement agent on behalf of DfID. Past procurement values in the RHI can be used together with country forecast data to determine if there will be a funding gap. The analysis can allow the MOH and donors to plan for future financing. This can also be done on a regional or global basis by advocacy groups.
