Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) products – like contraceptives, medicines to manage pregnancy-related complications, and supplies for safe abortion and post-abortion care – are critical to saving lives and advancing gender equality. They can dramatically improve people’s health and wellbeing by reducing unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths.

However, persistent weaknesses in current SRH markets still prevent millions of people from being able to access comprehensive, quality, and affordable SRH products that fit their preferences. SRH products are too often unaffordable, inaccessible, or simply don’t match individual preferences and lifestyles.

SRH markets are particularly complex because of underlying market conditions such as:

• Little insight into user preferences which also evolve over time
• Significant variation between countries about which SRH products and services are provided and how
• Uncoordinated service provision between the public and private sectors
• Over-reliance on donor funding and limited country ownership of market strategies
• Fragmented and fragile procurement environments
• Varying manufacturing, policy, and regulatory needs for SRH products

The consequences of these market challenges are startling. Today, 218 million women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who want to avoid or delay pregnancy are not using modern contraceptives and approximately 810 women die every day from causes related to pregnancy, childbirth, and unsafe abortion. Currently, from development to launch, new contraceptives can take up to five years longer to be introduced to LMIC markets than other global health products.

At the same time, there are opportunities. Countries are assuming greater political and financial responsibility for SRH markets, while regional collaboration, local manufacturing, and local entrepreneurship are on the rise.