Abstract
The global donor-funded market for male condoms for low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) was $53,905,642 in 2015, with more than 1.5 billion condoms procured by five major funding sources: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and Marie Stopes International (MSI), according to data from RH Interchange.1 A subsequent additional funder was the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).
As of the latest data readily available, 63 countries were recipients of these donor-funded condoms2 and, as of 2014, 26 different manufacturers served this market, many (but not all) located in middle-income countries with lower production costs and prequalified by UNFPA (see Appendix 1). 3 USAID, through their quality assurance contractor, FHI 360, also assesses condom manufacturers. (Currently, not all of the manufacturers pre-qualified by UNFPA have been reviewed and/or approved by FHI 360.) Historically, the market has not always been so competitive and diversified, however. This case study examines the evolution of the donorfunded male condom market from one characterized by higher costs and quality problems to one of improved functioning and market outcomes in terms of quality and supply competition, lead times, and prices. The case examines the role of USAID and UNFPA in particular, as they represent, respectively, 60% and 28% of the total market by dollar value.
This case study is intended for practitioners and participants in global health markets who seek examples of how individual markets have advanced as a result of market shortcomings being identified and addressed. This document details the global donor-funded male condom market as a learning opportunity for how an interrelated set of actors addressed key issues affecting this large-scale global public health intervention. We strive to explore the major themes of quality and supplier base expansion, and will reference others such as market data, differential packaging/pricing, and social marketing that could be explored in different venues.