Fourth Meeting, The Hague 2005
The Fourth Meeting
From October 6-7, 2005, the members of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition convened in the Hague, the Netherlands. Sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on finalizing mid- and long-term workplans for each of the three Working Groups and the Coalition as a whole. Key activities during the meeting were:
- The three Coalition Working Groups, Market Development Approaches (formerly the Total Market Initiative), Resource Mobilization and Awareness, and Systems Strengthening, had the opportunity to present and discuss their activities in the larger group. The Working Groups also met individually to lay out goals, objectives, and priorities and establish work plans.
- The European Commission and the United Kingdom Department for International Development presented findings of their country-based research aimed at better understanding how supply shortages can be alleviated.
- The meeting also saw the election of two new co-Chairs, Dr Wolfgang Bichmann from the German KfW Development Bank and Ms Margret Verwijk from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both will share the chairmanship for a two-year term, effective as of April 2006. They replace Ms Elizabeth Lule of the World Bank, who served as the Coalition’s first chair.
To help consolidate, strengthen, and support its work, the Coalition agreed to establish a dedicated Secretariat and search for a Director who would have significant responsibilities for the coordination, monitoring, and facilitation of Coalition activities.