Adaptations Used to Ensure Contraceptive Access during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Please join us for an insightful panel discussion that will examine the significant findings of an assessment and report on "Adaptations Used to Ensure Contraceptive Access during the COVID-19 Pandemic." The report identifies four primary challenges presented by COVID-19: social distancing, restricted movement/travel, limited human resources, and constrained budgets. These challenges affected service provision, drove supply chain costs up, and compromised businesses. For RH programs and supply chains, these challenges resulted in constraints in three main areas: human resources and PPE for service provision and supervision; in-country commodity distribution; and global supply and logistics.

Aiming to prepare stakeholders to take on future crises, Adaptations draws from a literature review of 85 documents and interviews with 26 stakeholders, to identify 20 adaptation strategies that were planned and/or applied. These strategies fall under: policy and advocacy, financing, supply sources, digital interventions, adjusted inventory management policies and procedures, and modified transport options and warehousing solutions. The panel features the following five key stakeholders who will share their unique perspectives on the challenges faced by RH supply chains, the adaptations implemented, the lessons learned from their respective organizations and countries, and recommendations for the future: