CONSULTANT REPORT ON COMMERCIAL CONTRACEPTIVE DISTRIBUTION IN BANGLADESH

THE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ARE THAT: (A)AID SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO TAILORING FUTURE CONTRACTS IN CONTRACEPTIVE DISTRIBUTION TO A GIVEN COUNTRY SITUATION AND WITH AS MUCH BUILT IN FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE CONSISTENT WITH AID OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS; (B)THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CONTRACTOR SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL A MARKETING PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION IN A PARTICULAR COUNTRY AND AID SHOULD CONSIDER REQUIRING A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND A MARKETING PROTOCOL IN ITS PLACE; AND (C)THAT AID SHOULD CONSIDER PACKAGING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND CONDOMS IN A COMMERCIAL PACKAGE THAT IS CONSIDERED DESIREABLE FOR USE IN COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS WORLD-WIDE AND UNDER THE MOST ADVERSE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. THE EVALUATORS FOUND THAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS GENERALLY ON TARGET IN MEETING CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. THE EVALUATORS MADE 14 PROJECT-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SUCH MATTERS AS PRICING, PACKAGING, RETAILER EDUCATION, COORDINATION OF SALES ACTIVITIES, CONTINUATION OF PROJECT EFFORTS AFTER CONTRACT PHASES OUT, COMMUNITY-BASED DISTRIBUTION, USE OF NORMAL TRADE PRACTICES IN THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION EFFORT, AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATION.