Regional Initiative for RHCS in West Africa

1
Regional Initiative for RHCS in West Africa

• October 2004 ECOWAS Health Ministers ask West
  Africa Health Organisation (WAHO), partners, and
  Member States to
• Prepare a regional RHCS strategy and convene
  donors to support it.
• Develop an informed buying platform to support
  country procurements
• November 2004 Director General/WAHO makes
  presentation to RH Supplies Coalition
• USAID, World Bank, UNFPA mobilize new resources
  to support development of RHCS strategy and
  informed buying

2
Regional Initiative for RHCS in West Africa

• Informed Buying
• Consultations underway to assess data needs,
  readiness, implementation options. Preliminary
  results show
• Countries want better market intelligence
• Technology and human resources are not limiting
  factors
• Champions and resources will be required for
  implementation
• Additional country visits to Mali and Nigeria
• Vet technical options (WAHO-led)
• Vet with Ministers (July 2005)
• Secure resources, skills, and workplan for
  implementation

3
Regional Initiative for RHCS in West Africa

• RHCS Strategy
• Concept paper drafted reviewed at WAHO meeting
  (April). The strategy will
• Identify actors at country and regional levels
• Put special attention on WAHOs role
• Ensure national programs drive the regional
  agenda
• Be flexible to allow donors to support it within
  their mechanisms
• 10 wise people to finalize concept paper (June)
• Paper presented to Ministers for approval (July)
• Country assessments to inform strategy
• Strategy to be presented to Ministers in 2006
  meeting

4
Regional Initiative for RHCS in West Africa

• Some Other Support
• KfW 8 bilateral programs for social marketing
  interest to develop regional project with WAHO.
• UNFPA Support for commodities and systems
  through thematic trust fund.
• USAID Ongoing support for commodities, technical
  assistance and capacity building to WAHO,
  countries, and technical/management institutes.