Innovation Fund

The International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC): Is access to emergency contraception affordable and equitable for women in developing countries?

The International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC) investigated inequities in access to emergency contraceptives (EC) in developing countries, finding that women in Francophone and Lusophone Africa pay some of the highest prices for EC. ICEC collected point-of-sale price information for EC in 75 countries, and analyzed the data relative to indicators of national poverty. It also completed more in-depth assessments of the total market for EC in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. ICEC hopes that the findings from this research can inform total market interventions to improve access to EC for women in developing countries.

Pregna International Ltd.: Provisioning of reproductive health commodities to providers using e-Commerce and alternative distribution mechanisms

Award amount: $178,090

Pregna operates an E-commerce portal (www.doctorshore.in) which reaches out to providers with RH and other products and enables them to procure commodities directly through the medium of e-commerce. As an alternative to marketing commodities through donor-funded social market programs, this project aims to enroll and motivate providers to procure required commodities through the portal to ensure access to a basket of quality RH products and enhance availability of new/underused methods. Key activities include: a) identifying and enrolling quality-assured suppliers of RH products; b) marketing the portal and raising awareness of its potential to increase availability of supplies; and c) providing a sustained source of RH commodities by enrolling health providers into the service.

FHI360

Market research conducted by FHI360 assessed the potential for introduction of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) into the market, and now Kenya stands on the threshold of adding a generic levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) to its method mix. FHI360, in partnership with Medicines360 and Marie Stopes International (MSI) prepared an introduction strategy for the Federal Drug Administration approved LNG IUS, including agreed-upon price ceiling guidelines for the LNG-IUS rollout in both the private and public sectors.

Financing for Development/Kangu: Pilot project to expand maternal and reproductive health services to disproportionately marginalized women in the LAC region through crowdfunding technology

Award amount: $198,640

Summary: Addressing inequities in access to health services in the Latin America/Caribbean region, F4D will pilot the expansion of the Kangu crowdfunding platform in this region. Through this pilot, F4D will support service provision that specifically targets low-access patients. Specifically, F4D will: a) pilot Kangu with IPPF in three LAC countries in order to reduce financial and other barriers by financing private sector provision of RH services, and b) mobilize new resources for meeting RH needs of low-access women by working with local partners to develop fundraising campaigns and engaging these partners in increasing group donations through their employees.

Abt Associates: Stewardship Capacity Assessment Tool

Award amount: $90,613

Building on initial work carried out in the MDAWG, this project is seeking funding to test and revise indicators and develop a tool for assessing government capacity to act as a steward in developing a TMA. The project supports three objectives: a) refine and vet proposed stewardship capacity indicators; b) provide a tool for assessing, improving, and monitoring stewardship capacity in the public sector; and c) identify challenges in the implementation of the tool and recommend mitigation strategies.

Financing for Development/impact investing: MDAWG Impact Investing Work Stream Project – Part 1

Award amount: $50,000

A study supported by Financing 4 Development (F4D) has concluded that social impact investors–individuals or institutions seeking social as well as financial returns–are ready and willing to invest in generic manufacturers based in emerging markets. Likewise, the generics, especially those that stand to gain from capital injections, are eager for those investors to come their way. Drawing on desk reviews, an online survey and interviews, F4D’s analysis concludes that manufacturers must learn to position themselves better to catch the right type of investor and capital. At the same time, it calls on investors to understand better the sometimes unexpected realities facing generic manufacturers.

William Davidson Institute

In this project, the William Davidson Institute (WDI) examines how to foster the private sector provision of FP products to rural and underserved areas, in order to prepare countries like Malawi for the future. WDI conducts an in-depth contraceptives distributor landscape analysis in Malawi and delivers actionable and stakeholder receptivity-tested concepts and recommendations for stimulating commercial distributor participation in rural, remote, and other underserved populations.