Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Supplies

In 2006, the European Commission, in a partnership agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), contributed nearly € 15 million to help UNFPA provide equipment and supplies for obstetric and maternal health in 17 ACP countries in conflict or post-conflict situations. The countries selected were those in most in need of assistance based on severe shortages of contraceptives and medical supplies.

The programme used a highly participatory approach that set out to reduce shortfalls and improve access, use, distribution and procurement of contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities, as well as to build governments' capacity to plan and manage their reproductive health commodity supply systems.

As a result, women and men gained access to contraceptives, clinics gained life-saving supplies, and a thousand service providers were trained. Moreover, governments weakened by conflict learned valuable skills that increased their capacity to meet maternal health goals, especially through family planning, and to achieve reproductive health supply commodity security (RHCS).