A new toolkit helps train government personnel in charge of procuring reproductive health supplies

Worldwide, more than 200 million women who want to delay or cease childbearing lack access to effective contraception. PATH is helping make contraceptives and other reproductive health products more available in developing countries by building skills among government workers who procure these supplies for nationwide use.

Although a number of reproductive health indicators have improved over the past 40 years, many people still cannot get basic supplies to avoid unwanted pregnancies, ensure safe deliveries, or manage sexually transmitted infections. Barriers to efficient and timely procurement by developing-country governments include poor supply chain management, lack of global coordination and information sharing, and difficulty sorting through the range of choices to find the best-quality products at the lowest prices.

Customized training based on needs

Using our 30 years of experience in international health and procurement, PATH developed the Procurement Capacity Toolkit to strengthen skills among those responsible for the supply of reproductive health products. The toolkit’s modular format enables customized, on-the-job training tailored to participants’ needs, as determined by initial evaluation. The toolkit contains ten learning modules addressing key elements of the procurement process, as well as summary information for policymakers and program managers, assessment tools, and information on additional resources.

Further improvement based on results

PATH has evaluated the toolkit by working intensively with public-sector procurement staff in Malawi and Zambia, in southern Africa. We have incorporated lessons learned into the final version of the Procurement Capacity Toolkit, which is now available for widespread distribution.

Through this toolkit and related training, PATH is helping increase access to much-needed reproductive health supplies in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Photo: PATH/Patrick McKern.