Exploring Tools for Scaling Up DMPA-SC in the Private Sector: A Guide for Family Planning Programs

Scaling up DMPA-SC (subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate), a popular contraceptive option, in the private sector requires a strategic approach. Understanding the market dynamics, demand potential, and lessons learned from past programs is crucial for success. Two key tools designed to aid in this process are the DMPA-SC High-Level Market Sizing Tool and the DMPA-SC Program Decision Tool. These tools offer vital insights and practical guidance for family planning programmers, manufacturers, distributors, and donors to support the effective expansion of DMPA-SC in new markets.

What is the DMPA-SC High-Level Market Sizing Tool?

The DMPA-SC High-Level Market Sizing Tool is a data visualization tool that provides a snapshot of the potential market for DMPA-SC in a given country or region. It utilizes specific variables from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) —such as population size, target demographics, and contraceptive use and need—and generates a clear, summarized view of the potential demand for the product. These estimates are intended to encourage discussions about potential opportunity, relative opportunity across countries, and about scale

This tool is particularly useful during the initial stages of program planning, as it helps decision-makers understand the scale of opportunity in the market. By visualizing key metrics, it provides a foundation for program designers to assess whether the DMPA-SC market is viable and where investments in growing the private sector for DMPA-SC might reach different groups of women.

What is the DMPA-SC Program Decision Tool?

The DMPA-SC Program Decision Tool is an Excel-based tool designed to help organizations, market actors and donor plan and scale up DMPA-SC in the private sector by applying a Market Development Framework. This framework, used by FHM Engage, helps diagnose, design, and implement interventions aimed at building sustainable markets for health products, including DMPA-SC.

Scaling up DMPA-SC in the private sector requires  understanding the specific market environment you will be working in. The Program Decision Tool helps family planning programmers and other market actors think strategically about the market system and apply research and past program learning to address market challenges and incorporate this into their program planning.

In short, the DMPA-SC Program Decision Tool bridges the gap between knowledge and action, enabling market actors to plan more effectively and sustainably.

Who Needs this Information, and How Can They Use It?

Key stakeholders who would benefit from these tools include:

• Family Planning Programmers: These actors can use the tools to design and scale up programs by understanding the specific needs and opportunities in a given market, ensuring that their efforts align with the demand for DMPA-SC.
• Manufacturers: They need market size data to help inform forecasted production needs, ensuring they can meet the potential demand in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Distributors: Having an understanding of the scale of the potential market size helps distributors plan their logistics, inventory, and distribution networks to efficiently supply DMPA-SC in target regions.
• Donors: Donors and funding agencies can use the tools to assess where investments in DMPA-SC programs can have the greatest impact, ensuring that resources are allocated to markets with the highest potential for success.

Both the Market Sizing Tool and the Program Decision Tool provide vital information that allows these actors to make informed decisions, aligning program design, manufacturing, and distribution with the needs of specific markets. By offering a structured approach to market analysis and planning, these tools are indispensable for those looking to expand the availability of DMPA-SC in a sustainable and scalable way.

Conclusion

Successfully scaling up DMPA-SC in the private sector requires careful planning, a solid understanding of the market, and the application of past learnings. The High-Level Market Sizing Tool and the DMPA-SC Program Decision Tool provide essential support in these efforts. By offering clear frameworks for diagnosis and planning, along with visual insights into market potential, these tools help ensure that DMPA-SC programs are both effective and sustainable.

For family planning programmers, manufacturers, distributors, and donors, using these tools is a crucial step toward ensuring that more people have access to this important contraceptive option.

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