During Phase I, CARISMA partners in Jamaica, Haiti, the Eastern Caribbean, Belize and the Dominican Republic conducted an unprecedented range of studies of condom access, including condom affordability, geographic coverage of condom availability, quality of condom outlets, and equity of access to condoms.   Not only has this research helped to respond to outstanding logistical and distribution challenges, but it has also enabled participating social marketing organisations (SMOs) to effectively target gaps in the condom market. As a result, these SMOs have successfully opened over a thousand [double check ] new condom outlets in high-risk zones, including: brothels, hotels, rum shops, discotheques and late-night bars. In the Dominican Republic alone, 50 million condoms have been sold under CARISMA through networks of local NGOs. In Haiti, CARISMA’s partner has increased national condom coverage by 20% in just two years. In the Eastern Caribbean, condom sales agents work in close coordination with behaviour change communication agents to ensure that condoms are demanded by, and sold to, high-risk populations.

Key to CARISMA’s success is the project’s commitment to the Total Market Approach.  This approach, which demands a harmonisation of effort across the condom market –NGOs, private sector, public sector and social marketing organisations – ensures increased efficiency, effectiveness and expansion of access while preventing a duplication of effort.  Each CARISMA partner shares this objective: to grow the total condom market by increasing public demand and expanding access into previously underserved communities.

In Phase II, CARISMA partners are building on shared expertise to continue their effective expansion of condom access, particularly into rural and hard-to-reach areas of the Caribbean.