Planning for contraceptive security : start with SPARHCS

Many of these improvements began by using the Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security (SPARHCS). SPARHCS is a flexible framework that assists stakeholders in taking a comprehensive review of reproductive health programs. As part of the framework, SPARHCS provides an assessment tool to help identify program elements that are operating well and those in need of strengthening. SPARHCS also serves as a process that helps stakeholders build up program aspects in need of support. It helps identify where to start when addressing contraceptive security and can be applied at any level of program operations -- from national to local levels. SPARHCS can be used at any time and is easily linked to the annual program cycle of planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. This brief provides an overview of SPARHCS, shows how it can be linked to the program cycle, examines the role of contraceptive security committees, and offers lessons learned from the 50 applications of SPARHCS. (Excerpt)