Abstract
Since the establishment of the modern supplies movement early in the last decade, few images have resonated more widely than that of the looming “donor gap”— the ever-growing chasm between increased global demand for family planning (FP) and the threat of a stagnant or even decreasing resource base. However, in reality, the challenges facing global contraceptive security derive as much from disarticulations in the global market as they do from the actions of the donor community. These challenges relate to the availability, affordability, and quality of products, and to the information that is provided to the market. These forces work in concert — limited information on user demand and donor funding leads to inadequate production levels and higher prices; and a limited number of quality-assured products further constrains supply and the ability to negotiate price reductions.
There is little doubt that the future of contraceptive security rests with low-income countries and, in particular, on action by national governments, civil society, and the private sector. It also rests on a more effective and efficient market — a market that encourages new entrants and minimizes unnecessary risk, but that also yields benefits in cost, quality, access, and choice.
