A good forecast leads to better relationships with suppliers, better  
pricing, and contributes to consistent commodity availability. Forecasts,  
however, are only as good as the data that goes into them.

Qualitative and quantitative studies conducted by the USAID | DELIVER  
PROJECT in five states in India concluded that the lack of systematic  
forecasting contributed to inconsistent commodity availability. In response  
to this, the project helped develop a more precise forecasting methodology  
for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCH+A)  
commodities and selected essential medicines in two states, Haryana and  
Jharkhand, that made use of available data, program clinical  
recommendations, and standard treatment guidelines.

To outline their efforts in this regard, the project has issued a new  
logistics brief, India: Data Drives Forecasting in Haryana and Jharkhand.  
Discussing the types of data that can inform forecasts, the brief goes on  
to describe the development of data collection templates and the steps  
taken in implementing them. In both states, the project strengthened the  
ability of the state health mission and the Haryana Medical Services  
Corporation Limited to use existing data for the improved management of  
supply chain operations.

Download India: Data Drives Forecasting in Haryana and Jharkhand from the  
project website at http://bit.ly/1WPEFZ9

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