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Build resilience and improve adaptation, in settings of humanitarian crisis and environmental change, starting with the Minimum Initial Service Package and including family planning in national policies, plans and strategies
Build resilience and improve adaptation, in settings of humanitarian crisis and environmental change, starting with the Minimum Initial Service Package and including family planning in national policies, plans and strategies
Family planning is a lifesaving intervention in humanitarian settings. Ensuring continuous access to family planning for populations experiencing a humanitarian crisis is needed, demanded and feasible. Disruption of family planning services can be minimized through a) preparedness actions, b) prompt response interventions and c) coordinated transition back to comprehensive SRH services.
The updated Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health (2018) repositioned family planning “preventing unintended pregnancies” as one of the four main clinical and lifesaving services of the MISP. Preparedness, response and recovery efforts should be tailored to local contexts and shaped by decision-makers at appropriate points within the humanitarian cycle and within the health system. The following priority actions are designed to deliver more effectively to people affected by disasters, conflicts and climate instability, including populations on the move.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.1: Make disaggregated, up-to-date, quality data available across all phases of the humanitarian cycle
PRIORITY ACTION 5.1: Make disaggregated, up-to-date, quality data available across all phases of the humanitarian cycle
Programmatic options
5.1.1 Crisis and nexus funding: Advocate for the prioritization of family planning and strengthen resource mobilization efforts during acute and protracted humanitarian crises through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and flash appeals, for example. Mobilize increased and sustained funding across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus for family planning and other SRH interventions with a focus on the preparedness and transition phases.
5.1.2 Disaggregated data: Support disaggregated data collection and identification of core family planning indicators suitable for humanitarian preparedness, response and transition planning.
5.1.3 Forecasting: Provide technical assistance to analyse data for realistic forecasting and quantification exercises for the procurement and prepositioning of family planning supplies, such as mCPR and the availability of family planning services in affected health facilities.
5.1.4 Management tools: Support humanitarian actors to use contraceptive management tools (e.g. MISP, LEAP) to help integrate emergency reproductive health supplies into logistics management information systems (LMIS) as a short-term measure while restoring routine information systems.
5.1.5 Map MISP partners: Map potential humanitarian partners to implement the Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (MISP, including Objective 5 to prevent unintended pregnancies), making note of geographic areas of interventions and capacities. Broaden the partner base and reduce silos by fostering partnerships with climate change/adaptation, resilience, preparedness and disaster risk reduction actors.
5.1.6 Real-time monitoring: Support real-time monitoring of supply availability and procurement activities to identify gaps in health systems and risks affecting the continued provision of family planning services during and after a crisis or emergency with partners such as the World Food Programme, World Health Organization, UNICEF and other agencies and organizations including the private sector. Monitor and capitalize on best practices and share lessons learned.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.2: Build the capacity of governments, health systems and partners to deliver quality family planning information and services across all phases of the humanitarian programme cycle
PRIORITY ACTION 5.2: Build the capacity of governments, health systems and partners to deliver quality family planning information and services across all phases of the humanitarian programme cycle
Programmatic options
5.2.1 MISP standards: Secure governments and partners’ adherence to international standards through the integration of the Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (MISP, including Objective 5 to prevent unintended pregnancies) into laws, policies, strategies and plans.
5.2.2 Preparedness: Build preparedness activities including those captured in Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA) and MISP Readiness Assessments (MRA) into Country Programme Documents and the UNSDCF.
5.2.3 MISP capacity: Build capacity to implement the Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations (MISP), including provision of a mix of short and long-acting methods of contraception, among midwives and other health workers, health managers and programme managers, and partners such as ministries of health, humanitarian organizations and local implementing partners and community networks.
5.2.4 Innovative services: Introduce innovative methods of service delivery, including self-care and online services for family planning that can be sustained during emergencies.
5.2.5 Coordination: Secure UNFPA leadership in humanitarian coordination mechanisms and ensure that family planning services, including modern contraceptives, for crisis-affected populations such as refugees, migrants and the internally displaced are included in Universal Health Coverage and primary health care (UHC/PHC) efforts.
5.2.6 Tools and materials: Develop and disseminate appropriate tools, information and communication materials to support quality improvement and a wider adherence to human rights-based principles in humanitarian contexts.
5.2.7 Local solutions: Encourage the adoption of solutions that are locally developed and owned to improve the coverage of the neediest populations and those furthest behind, including sex workers, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and persons identifying as LGBTIQ+.
5.2.8 Innovative financing: Promote the design and implementation of finance mechanisms, including bridge funding, impact bonds and private sector investments in humanitarian preparedness, transition and building back better efforts with a focus on improving the resilience of health systems and communities.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.3: Ensure timely availability of modern contraceptives to the last mile, across all phases of the humanitarian programme cycle.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.3: Ensure timely availability of modern contraceptives to the last mile, across all phases of the humanitarian programme cycle.
Programmatic options
5.3.1 Supply chain forecasting: Provide technical assistance towards restoring routine family planning supply chains and reducing reliance on humanitarian kits and supplies by supporting forecasting of family planning commodity needs and costs as a crisis situation stabilizes. Support forecasting to inform contingency planning for emergency commodity procurement plans as well as routine supply chains, for example including emergency buffer stocks in national procurement plans.
5.3.2 Supply chain capacity: Build national humanitarian actors' capacity in contraceptive supply chain management including prepositioning of commodities and components of the IARH kit management (e.g. forecasting, quantification and supply planning, logistics and pharmacy management, monitoring and data collection, utilization, LMA) for timely distribution to the last mile, with an emphasis on quality assurance of time- and temperature-sensitive medicines.
5.3.3 Post-acute period: Support humanitarian actors to ensure that comprehensive provision of family planning services and the supply of modern methods of contraception are included in planning and funding proposals for post-acute humanitarian settings,supporting the transition to comprehensive services post-MISP.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.4: Build resilience and strengthen health systems in countries experiencing humanitarian crises, or those at high risk of experiencing humanitarian crises.
PRIORITY ACTION 5.4: Build resilience and strengthen health systems in countries experiencing humanitarian crises, or those at high risk of experiencing humanitarian crises.
Programmatic options
5.4.1 Climate plans: Advocate at global, regional and country levels for inclusion of sexual and reproductive health, including family planning, in country-level climate adaptation, response and contingency plans.
5.4.2 Women and girls at the centre: Advocate for women and adolescent girls to remain at the centre of a humanitarian response, engaging them in design, implementation and in the prioritization of actions and plans.
5.4.3 Resilience plans: Assist national and subnational governments to develop specific resilience plans for health (as per the Sendai Framework) for sexual and reproductive health, including family planning.
5.4.4 Engage communities: Engage communities, including those most at-risk, in designing and implementing preparedness and response interventions to ensure continuity of family planning information and services during the humanitarian response.
The interventions under "Build resilience and improve adaptation" contribute to the UNFPA strategic plan output “humanitarian action”.
Acceleration Plan Output 5: Family planning is effectively delivered to populations affected by disasters, conflicts and climate instability (in humanitarian settings)
Acceleration Plan Output 5: Family planning is effectively delivered to populations affected by disasters, conflicts and climate instability (in humanitarian settings)
The strategic plan refers to strengthening the capacity of critical actors and systems in preparedness, early action and the provision of life-saving interventions. The acceleration plan seeks to build family planning capacity: “Family planning is effectively delivered to populations affected by disasters, conflicts and climate instability (in humanitarian settings).”
RESOURCE: Relevant text from the family planning strategy
Although family planning is one of the most life-saving, empowering and cost-effective interventions, there remains an overwhelming gap in addressing the needs of women and girls during crises due to a failure to prioritize and provide sufficient funding. Consequently, many women and girls are forced to contend with an unmet need for family planning and unintended pregnancies in addition to the traumas of conflict, disaster and displacement. UNFPA is intensifying efforts to make contraception available at the onset of every emergency response, along with maternal health and obstetric emergency care and other essential sexual and reproductive health services. Humanitarian response can contribute to changes in health-seeking behaviour, including contraceptive uptake.
As a multisectoral intervention, family planning contributes to reaching vulnerable populations with life-saving care, mitigating conflict and achieving state stability and peace. Countries around the world are taking steps to adapt their systems and services in the face of rapid onset events such as natural disasters, pandemics such as COVID-19, and conflict as well as longer-term trends that create risks to population stability including climate change and population dynamics of age and size over time. UNFPA will support countries in preparedness, response and recovery, to build resilience and take steps to adapt to risks and challenging trends.
UNFPA will promote the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations. This includes investing in ensuring the continued availability of contraceptives through adequate preparedness. Steps include the development of minimum preparedness actions and contingency plans; strengthening the supply chain before, during and after a humanitarian crisis to guarantee availability of a wide range of contraceptive methods; strengthening coordination mechanisms; and constantly exploring innovative approaches to the transition from the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the provision of long-term development assistance with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
Working with global, regional and local humanitarian partners, UNFPA will invest in building better knowledge and practices around engaging women, adolescent girls and those most often the furthest behind, including sex workers, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and those identifying as LGBTQI+ in the design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health services and will continue to expand links to GBV prevention and response during periods of crisis. UNFPA will also support advocacy for the stronger integration of family planning into preparedness disaster risk reduction planning.
UNFPA will assist governments and implementing partners to ensure the availability of a wide range of contraceptive methods and services during crises and to strengthen referral systems to respond to the sexual and reproductive health and GBV prevention and response needs of the most vulnerable, particularly adolescents and marginalized groups. As part of its long-term approach, UNFPA will continue to strengthen preparedness and recovery efforts, including through sustained, multi-year and flexible family planning funding.
UNFPA will support countries in their efforts to integrate family planning into climate change response strategies, including National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), ensuring family planning is implemented in a way that respects and supports human rights. Working with country partners to highlight adaptation models that connect ICPD, climate change and family planning, UNFPA will advocate for climate-resilient health systems and facilities and integrated climate change and sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning services, positioning family planning as an integral part of green building back better programmes.
UNFPA is both a development and a humanitarian organization. It is uniquely situated to play a role in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and in the identification and operationalization of synergies across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.
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