Integrating gender equity and social inclusion into forecasting and supply planning (FSP): a policy commentary

This policy commentary argues that forecasting and supply planning (FSP) for immunization systems must integrate gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) to bridge the gap between vaccine supply and actual utilization. While FSP traditionally focuses on supply-side efficiency, this narrow approach risks perpetuating inequities by leaving systematically excluded populations invisible in data and planning processes. Drawing on experience from the Immunization Collaborative Supply Planning Strengthening project, we demonstrate how contextual factors including gender dynamics, mobility patterns, seasonality and conflict shape vaccination demand among marginalized communities. The commentary outlines key practice implications, including strengthening supply-demand collaboration, embedding GESI expertise into FSP teams and improving data disaggregation. We conclude that this integration is essential to transforming forecasting into an inclusive mechanism that ensures equitable immunization access.