Opportunities in an Evolving Landscape

Oct. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Where: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Oslo

When: 05-09 October 2015

Meeting website: http://www.rhsupplies.org/news-events/general-membership-meetings/sixteenth-meeting-oslo-2015/

Opportunities in an Evolving Landscape
This year, the Millennium Development Goals come to term and attention turns to the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable development goals. Those of us involved in sexual and reproductive health and rights – and particularly family planning – will also see a new global strategy for Every Woman Every Child and its funding mechanism, the Global Financing Facility.  As our landscape changes, organizations working at the macro and micro levels must understand and actively engage in ongoing discussions, and they must continue to operate seamlessly as they play their part in the provision of quality reproductive health supplies to people in low- and middle-income countries.

At our 16th General Membership Meeting from 05-09 October 2015 in Oslo, Norway, we will use the post-2015 development agenda to frame our conversations. We will hear voices from those working at the global, regional, country and local levels, learn from one another and work together to find the best way forward for the reproductive health supplies community.

Take Stock
The meeting will also hear about the ambitious global campaign Take Stock, aiming to end stockouts of lifesaving contraceptives in the world’s most vulnerable countries. We see the launch of the new campaign website and we hear the voices of those who suffer as a consequence of empty shelves. We also join key supporters of the campaign, such as USAID and UNFPA, in celebrating two Awards – the Take Stock Hero 2015, and the Take Stock Champion, 2015, who will be announced at 09:10 (Oslo time) on Friday 09 October.

Notes to Editors:
1.    Who is the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition?
The world’s largest reproductive health network with 348 members. We bring donors, governments, NGOs, scientists and the private sector to the same table, to increase the access of contraceptives and maternal health supplies to the world’s poorest people.
Headquartered in Brussels, the Coalition has offices in Washington, DC, and Lima.
2.    Why Oslo?
The meeting is co-hosted by The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The Norwegian government is the Coalition’s most recently-arrived core donor; it plays a pivotal role as backer for the volume guarantee for price reduction of contraceptive implants and plays a significant role as key backer and supporter of a new effort to harmonize financing – the Global Financing Facility.
3.    Who are the world experts at the meeting?
•    Nora QUESADA, JSI. More than 25 years working in supply chain and reproductive health supplies in the Latin American and Caribbean region. An authority on inequities in Latin America
•    Nene FOFANA, PSI/Mali. Can speak with great experience about reproductive health and rights in Francophone Africa
•    Lloyd MATOWE, Pharmaceutical Systems Africa. Will speak about post-Ebola Liberia and how supply chains are crucial in building up the health system after the devastation.
•    Rufino LUNA, Mexican Ministry of Health. A medical doctor, he is specialized in procurement and distribution of reproductive health supplies. Has been in charge of reforming the procurement system for the Mexican Ministry of Health, centralizing procurement in his office, and is responsible for procuring US$100M worth of contraceptives every year for the Mexican people.
•    Alice MILLER – Chief Financial Officer for Financing for Development. She is a development finance expert with over 20 years of experience in government and international public sector financial management, risk management, lending, credit structuring, budgeting, program management, international trade, and economic policy.
•    Renee VAN DE WEERDT Senior Technical Adviser, Reproductive Health Commodities, United Nations Population Fund. She supports the country missions on a host of activities related to the procurement and secure supply of RH commodities.

To arrange interviews and for more information, please contact Hannah Pandian on hpandian@rhsupplies.org.