Primer: Ensuring reproductive health commodity security within a sector wide approach.

The donor health environment is evolving. The focus of attention has been on SWAps and their associated financing mechanisms. Project funding pooled funds and budget support each have different strengths and weaknesses. They have been used together to improve RHCS under SWAps leveraging each other’s strengths and compensating for weaknesses. When used in combination the different financing mechanisms can increase transparency improve communications realize greater efficiencies and focus activities on specific priorities while strengthening health systems overall. This evolution makes it imperative that donors regardless of their preferred funding mechanism work together and with country stakeholders to use the SWAp process to improve RHCS -- from design to implementation and monitoring and evaluation. USAID should participate in the sector planning process and donor coordination mechanism of a SWAp even if it cannot provide funds for a basket or provide budget support. The donor coordination mechanism is a key entry point for inputs on how different funding mechanisms can be used in combination to improve RHCS. Donor agencies such as USAID and UNFPA have a different role than an NGO within a SWAp or contracting agency. Donors meet with line ministries and they are in a position to influence policy. NGOs and project staff rarely have this opportunity but they can influence policy by participating on sub-committees and by providing specific technical inputs such as forecasting data and advocacy tools to their donor agencies and the MOH. (Excerpt)