Procurement for Empowerment: The Impact of Female Decision-Makers in Reproductive Health Supply Chains.

This article examines the impact of female decision-makers—specifically female health ministers and female parliamentarians—on the procurement quantity of contraceptives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using data from 101 LMICs over 16 years, the study finds that countries with female health ministers procure on average 66% more contraceptives than those with male health ministers, and this effect is strengthened by a higher proportion of female parliamentarians. The research highlights that female decision-makers tend to prioritize reproductive health issues more closely aligned with women's needs, particularly in contexts with higher unmet contraceptive demand. These findings underscore the importance of gender diversity in leadership roles for advancing contraceptive access, a key component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to health and gender equality.