Abstract
Long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) or “net” specifications today are highly fragmented across color, shape, size, packaging, labelling, and accessories, amongst other factors. There are currently over 200 variations of LLINs available on the market, including supplier offerings in over 10 listed colors and 20 sizes and shapes, with a wide variety of packaging and labelling options. Among these, ~25 combinations of net specifications represent the most commonly purchased products globally.1
Maintaining a wide range of net specifications is essential to ensure net usage (defined as use when a net is available within a household). However, the costs of net differentiation (i.e., prices, lead time) must also be taken into account relative to the evidence of usage and/ or programmatic benefits. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded NetWorks program and Results for Development Institute (R4D) undertook a rigorous analysis of both costs and benefits to identify over 70 net specification parameters that offer highest value for money (VFM). A net specification was deemed as lower VFM when its associated costs were high, but evidence of its usage or programmatic benefits was low.
Given the importance of optimizing VFM in the current resource-constrained environment, the recommendations in this document pertain to donor-funded procurement of LLINs in particular. Undertaking global procurement in accordance with this guidance can achieve up to $290M in savings over 5 years2 , reduce LLIN delivery lead times, and address wastage concerns related to packaging issues.
This document will be updated every 1-2 years as new evidence on the costs and benefits of net specifications becomes available.
