ITSABOUTSUPPLIES - The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
Publication date: 2018
#ITSABOUTSUPPLIES The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC) is the world’s largest network of reproductive health (RH) supplies organizations. Formed in 2004, it is a partnership of 500+ public entities, private corporations, and NGOs working so that everyone in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can access and use affordable, high-quality RH supplies. Structured Informality and the Power of Partnership The Coalition applies its unique attributes and approaches to deliver success. Neutrality offers a “safe space” where experts can leave their institutional hats at the door, while remaining focused on what they share in common. The ability to Broker Partnerships cuts across all sectors and regions. Convening Power helps rapidly assemble a critical mass of supply stakeholders and champions to achieve results no partner could accomplish on its own. A diverse, Flexible Resource Base makes it possible to rapidly pursue activities that may fall outside the remit of an individual donor. A large and diverse membership offers up an accessible Brain Trust. The Coalition’s Respected Name brings credibility and trust. E-mail: secretariat@rhsupplies.org Web: www.rhsupplies.org WHAT WE DO THE LEVERS OF CHANGE The Coalition is a voluntary partnership working together to make a lasting impact on access to RH supplies. For example: In 2020, the RHSC helped mobilize more than $12M in new orders, savings, and leveraged funds. Users of the Global Family Planning Visibility Analytics Network applied enhanced supply chain data visibility to detect and avoid overstocks and anticipate stockouts. The VAN and earlier data visibility tools have, to date, generated more than $100M in cost savings and new product procurement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RHSC developed a suite of responses including MICRO, to help track shifts in contraceptive demand arising from a changing method-mix; and D-RISC, which estimates shipment risk by factoring in variables such as health, policy, and transport. mailto:secretariat@rhsupplies.org http://www.rhsupplies.org https://www.rhsupplies.org/gfpvan/ https://www.rhsupplies.org/activities-resources/tools/micro/ https://www.rhsupplies.org/activities-resources/tools/d-risc/ DATA Working Groups Coalition members work through the following engines. › Advocacy and Accountability Working Group › Market Development Approaches Working Group › Systems Strengthening Working Group › Caucus on New and Underused Reproductive Health Technologies › Maternal Health Supplies Caucus › Manufacturers’ Group › Youth Caucus › The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Forum (ForoLAC) › The Francophone Africa Regional Forum (SECONAF) Keeping connected The Coalition is governed by an Executive Committee made up of leaders from across the RH community. Member organizations can address contraceptive access issues through nine Working Groups, supported by the Coalition’s Secretariat, which is managed by the international NGO, PATH. The Secretariat has staff across the US as well as in Lima, Brussels, and London. Coalition members keep connected through a newsletter, a multilingual website, and a general membership meeting. Membership has grown from 15 to more than 500, more than a third of which are from LMICs. Membership is free; apply at http://www.rhsupplies.org/ about-us/become-a-member/. Using data visibility to optimize supply chains For nearly two decades, the RHSC has averted supply crises using resources that have become bywords in the community such as the CARhs, the CSP group, the RH Interchange, and the PPMR. As we continue efforts to share data more effectively and dismantle old information silos, we’ve brought all these resources together under the Global Family Planning VAN (the VAN). The VAN is a shared global network that captures and uses supply chain data from multiple sources to ensure (a) more timely and cost-effective delivery of commodities to countries; (b) more women reached with the right product at the right time; and (c) better coordination on how to allocate limited health resources. Other data visibility resources include: The Innovation Fund The Innovation Fund is the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition’s flagship initiative for inspiring and financing new activities that further the Coalition’s strategic goals and those of its Working Groups. Established in 2008, it has granted more than $6.2 million under the Innovation Fund. We have awarded 70 small grants and leveraged more than $20.6 million – a return of roughly $3.32 to $1. $20.6M leveraged since 2008 The 2020 Family Planning Market Report, which features family planning shipment data from 16 suppliers, providing visibility into family planning procurement in the 69 FP2020 focus countries, and synthesizes recent supplier and procurement data as well as five-year trends from 2015 to 2019. Business intelligence tool SEPREMI, which offers Latin American and Caribbean country governments data with which to forecast and head off potential stockouts. The Costed Commodity Gap Analysis, which contributes vital data and analysis to inform strategies to close widening funding gaps and to secure future supply availability. Updated: February 2021 https://www.rhsupplies.org/activities-resources/groups/ http://www.rhsupplies.org/about-us/become-a-member/ http://www.rhsupplies.org/about-us/become-a-member/ https://www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/tx_rhscpublications/Family-Planning-Market-Report.pdf https://www.rhsupplies.org/activities-resources/commodity-gap-analysis/
Looking for other reproductive health publications?
The Supplies Information Database (SID) is an online reference library with more than 2000 records on the status of reproductive health supplies. The library includes studies, assessments and other publications dating back to 1986, many of which are no longer available even in their country of origin. Explore the database here.