UNFPA and the Ministry of Health today launched the Country Compact on co-financing the procurement of reproductive health commodities. The Country Compact was signed between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and UNFPA.

Speaking at the launch of the Country Compact on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Contraception Day, H.E. Dr. Meseret Zelalem, Director of the Maternal, Child and Nutrition Directorate with the Ministry of Health, indicated that Ethiopia is the first country in the region to sign the compact. “The Ethiopian Government is committed to increase domestic financing to co-finance the procurement of family planning commodities,” she noted adding that the budget for the sector has doubled from the allocation last year. She indicated that in the past two decades an additional 8 million women of reproductive age have become users of family planning.

The Country Compact is believed to be critical in addressing the financial gap Ethiopia is facing currently for the procurement of family planning products.  The Ethiopian Government has been increasing domestic financing in recent years for the procurement of family planning commodities but there is a yawning budget gap which could grow to USD 19 million by 2025.

Making remarks on the occasion Ms. Suzanne Mandong, UNFPA Representative a.i., lauded the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to advance the sexual and reproductive health agenda and sign the co-financing agreement with UNFPA for the procurement of family planning commodities starting from 2023. “The Country Compact will be critical to contribute to the achievement of the SDG target on ensuring Universal Access to Contraception by 2030,” she underlined.  

Currently, UNFPA is implementing the third phase of the Global Supplies Partnership Programme up to 2030. This has been the world’s largest provider of contraceptives. But due to global funding cuts, countries have been required to sign compact agreements in this third phase and make financial commitments for the procurement of reproductive health commodities.

The various stakeholders present on the occasion were familiarized on the Country Compact signed between the Government of Ethiopia and UNFPA and the compact was handed-over to the signatories for implementation.