SFPS Contraceptive Logistics Management Plan

In order for SFPS to achieve the first result of its Results Package (i.e. increased use of FP methods by 1 percentage point per year), contraceptive commodities must consistently be available to the service delivery programs in target countries. Significant stock-outs can threaten the contraceptive prevalence rate goals of the project.

To address the importance of availability of contraceptive commodities, SFPS is working with FPLM to control contraceptive stock-outs at SFPS sites in the four countries. FPLM addresses stock-out control with various approaches: reinforcement of national logistics systems, fostering of donor collaboration, development of sustainability through training of host country officials in logistics skills, and use South-to-South activities to share expertise. From the stock out surveys taken to date, it is clear that in many instances "stock-outs" are not a supply or transportation problem but rather a problem of clear logistics policy on items such as stock transfers, order frequency, minimum stock level, and emmergency order procedures. Additionally, there are stock-out problems due to poorly functioning Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS), lack of forecasting skills, and ineffective donor collaboration. To address these issues, FPLM is conducting activities designed to transfer technological skills in these areas.

The second focus SFPS/FPLM activities is to ensure continued supply of contraceptives in the coming months and years. Personnel in each country at the regional and district levels of the contraceptive pipeline, as well as service providers at the service delivery sites, need basic logistics skills to proactively prevent stock-outs. As USAID products phase out of the pipeline and products from alternate donors replace them, systems of on-going donor collaboration are established and strengthened. Already, contraceptive forecasting in the target countries has improved, but additional assistance and technology transfer is needed during this crucial phase. Similarly, officials need to learn how to evaluate their own systems and to make their procurement procedure s more effective.

With these two goals in mind (controlling stock-outs and ensuring continued supply) FPLM is implementing nine main activities in fiscal year 1998. These nine activities are:

• Urgent response activity to deal with significant stock-outs at SDPs.
• Stock-out reduction and monitoring at SDP level.
• Implementation of a series of activities to systematize stock-out control including the development, standardization, and dissemination of an LMIS.
• Production of quarterly contraceptive forecasts and CYP reports based on quantities distributed.
• Country distribution analysis and recommendations.
• Series of national logistics and prevalence workshops.
• Provision of technical assistance for contraceptive supply assurance through donor collaboration and skills transfer procurement.
• Training in contraceptive forecasting and system evaluation.
• South-to-south exchange.

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