Duration: May 2018 – May 2025

Donor: USAID

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Prime contractor: Abt Global

Partner organizations: i+solutions, Pathfinder International, TRG, MatchBoxology, BleuSquare, Viamo

Objectives and background

The objective of this multiyear project is to strengthen the capacity of Congolese institutions and communities to provide integrated and quality health services to sustainably improve the health of the Congolese population.

i+solutions’ role in this project is to increase continuous availability of essential drugs at the last mile, between the health zone (HZ) level, the health facilities (HF) and the community base. This way, we contribute to strengthening the health system, governance and leadership at the targeted provincial, health zone and health facility levels.

The program covers 47,101,119 people, approximately 38% of the DRC population, across 9 provinces divided into 179 health zones (HZ), with 3,254 health areas, including 172 HGRs, 6,855 HF, and 3,461 community care sites. The 9 provinces covered are Haut-Katanga, Haut Lomami, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Lomami, Lualaba, Sankuru, Sud-Kivu, and Tanganyika.

Key activities and results

To ensure drug availability and improve the supply chain, i+solutions supported various activities within the USAID IHP program:

• Technical and financial support for 168 supply chain coordination meetings across 9 provinces of the Essential Medicines Working Group (GTM), technical logistics units (UTGL), and other logistics commissions related to specialized programs (CTMP, PMI).
• Facilitated 14 quarterly improvement review meetings, bringing together drug managers from 179 health zones to evaluate supply chain performance, share experiences, and develop quarterly improvement plans.
• Assisted the Ministry of Health to establish and finalize the setup of the Health Supply Management Academy (AGAPS-RDC), the first government online supply chain academy in DRC. Trained 33 graduates in the first AGAPS DRC cohort.
• Supported the quarterly planning and organization of last-mile distribution for 179 health zones, tailored to the complexities of each area.
• Provided management tools to 179 HZ, covering annual needs in 4,908 health care establishments.