Year 5 Annual Performance Monitoring Report: Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO)

The project focuses on informed choice and aims to create a roadmap for introducing and creating demand for multiple family planning (FP) products. The EECO team takes a comprehensive approach to the value chain by addressing each of the five stages of new product introduction. The project is currently introducing four new contraceptive methods: the SILCS Diaphragm and the Woman's Condom developed by PATH, Progering, a progesterone-only vaginal ring (PVR), developed by the Population Council, and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), including Avibela from Medicines360. Project partner Evofem has also developed Amphora, a non-hormonal contraceptive gel, for which it is seeking FDA approval. The EECO project is being implemented in several countries, including Malawi and Zambia. In Malawi, the project has made significant progress in introducing the Woman's Condom, with 23,656 condoms sold over the course of the Whisper introduction. The project has also conducted a post-market assessment research report, which was shared at the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting in December 2017. In Zambia, the project has seen a significant increase in sales of the Maximum Diva Woman's Condom, with 73,292 condoms sold in 2018. The EECO project has also conducted an impact evaluation of the Woman's Condom in Zambia, which has led to several presentations and the development of three manuscripts. The project has also coordinated a Proficiency Study with Shanghai Dahua and FHI 360, which was completed in November 2017. Based on the results, WCG recommended improvements to Shanghai Dahua's testing operations. The project has also conducted a Total Market Approach (TMA) assessment in Zambia, which was presented at the FP Technical Working Group Meeting (FPTWG) convened by Zambia's Ministry of Health (MOH). The Zambian Mission has invited EECO to submit a budget for potential field support funding to continue distribution of the Woman's Condom in Zambia following the end of core OHA funding. The EECO project has made significant progress in introducing new contraceptive methods and creating demand for multiple FP products. The project's comprehensive approach to the value chain has enabled it to address each of the five stages of new product introduction, from procurement and quality assurance to distribution and learning. The project's impact evaluation and TMA assessment have provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the project's interventions and have informed future programming. The project's geographic focus is on priority countries, with a focus on Malawi and Zambia. The project's timeframes are from October 2013 to September 2022, with Year 5 covering the period from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018. The project's recommendations include continuing to support the introduction of new contraceptive methods and creating demand for multiple FP products, as well as continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of the project's interventions. The project's implementation details include the use of a Total Market Approach (TMA) to create demand for multiple FP products, as well as the use of a comprehensive approach to the value chain to address each of the five stages of new product introduction. The project has also conducted an impact evaluation of the Woman's Condom in Zambia, which has led to several presentations and the development of three manuscripts. The project has also coordinated a Proficiency Study with Shanghai Dahua and FHI 360, which was completed in November 2017.