Logistics Response Digest: January 2024
Welcome to HLA’s first newsletter of 2024. We hope that the year has got off to a good start for you.
This is an exciting period for the Association as our team and affiliates work on strengthening ways that organisations and practitioners will benefit through access to news and communications about world-class levels of knowledge, information, and best-practice in the field of humanitarian logistics.
To achieve this, HLA is developing partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and enhancing the ways through which the organisation operates. Over the next few months, we will be sharing more details via our newsletter and events, so please watch this space.
UPDATES
Localisation in Practice – The Future of Health & Humanitarian Logistics Systems
A variety of key challenges and solutions were discussed at the 15th Annual Health and Humanitarian Logistics Conference 2023. For example, on managing emergency supply chains in Africa, advice on stockpiling strategies to improve resilience, and on critical topics such as the new malaria vaccine distribution and last-mile operations. Key presentations included insights from the Kenya Red Cross Society and WHO’s emergency supply chain, emphasizing the impact of conflict, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. The event brought together practitioners, aid agencies, government representatives, innovators, and academics in Nairobi at the end of November. Sponsored by UPS Foundation and Chemonics International, the conference, attended by 70 organizations, showcased a vibrant and collaborative platform for knowledge exchange and networking.
A notable outcome was an 80% preference for the HHL Conference to return to East Africa in 2024, showcasing the event’s positive impact and potential for future editions.
For more information, see the HHL website and summary report here.
People affected by disasters have a fundamental right to get the products that they truly need and want. Unfortunately, in many cases, emergency kits distributed are generic and not context-appropriate. At the end of 2023, HLA partnered with UNICEF’s Office of Innovation to establish the Kits that Fit project (funded by Innovation Norway) to work on mechanisms to enable feedback from affected communities on the items in their kit. Furthermore, local businesses and private sector actors do not have access to this feedback and thus miss out on opportunities to target or improve their services for better emergency response and preparedness.
This project will introduce innovative WASH items to UNICEF’s humanitarian response, which will be made possible by localising procurement with local businesses. Rather than generic kits sourced globally, the project will help procure and prepare kits locally, increase supply chain resilience, reduce wastage, and support local markets.
By doing this, the project will deliver on UNICEF’s commitments on these issues, such as the Grand Bargain localisation agenda and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and will inform wider adoption across the sector.
EVENTS
Humanitarian Supply Chain Management Partnership for Localisation
Following the Grand Bargain commitments, international organizations have been transitioning to a model that actively involves local partners, aiming to improve the speed and relevance of emergency responses and augment local stakeholder involvement in strategic and operational decisions. Developing localized supply chain partnerships, where a network of local and national organizations, humanitarian actors, and commercial entities collaborate, is central to this evolution. The aim is to align humanitarian services more closely with regional specifics, resulting in more effective, sustainable outcomes. This approach benefits local communities with more pertinent services, offers development opportunities to local employees, and strengthens local governance and NGOs. Despite its potential, the transition to localization presents challenges.
Pamela Steele Associates (PSA) conducted a comprehensive review, culminating in a “Localised Development” report, which delves into the complexities of localizing international aid, using case studies to demonstrate the intricacies of interventions. It offers policy suggestions for a harmonious, cooperative, and forward-thinking approach to localized development.
To discuss this report, PSA is organizing a two-day workshop on 23rd February 2024 in Nairobi (venue TBC) with stakeholders in humanitarian logistics and supply chains. The goal is to reform the humanitarian sector and render aid more efficiently, responsively, and sustainably. Engaging a wide range of voices, especially those from communities directly affected by crises, is crucial to ensure that localization strategies are realistic and impactful.
To register for the workshop, please use this link
The Humanitarian Networks & Partnerships Week (HNPW) is the annual gathering of the humanitarian community. During the HNPW, various actors, agencies, and humanitarians from around the world meet (online and in-person in Geneva) to exchange ideas, network, and discuss cross-cutting issues in the humanitarian field.
HLA will be presenting two in-person sessions at HNPW:
1. Kits that Fit – Strengthening local engagement in humanitarian procurement. Organised in collaboration with UNICEF.
7 May 2024 (14:00-15:30) UTC+2
Challenges persist with local suppliers’ limited ability to meet the rigorous standards for large-scale procurement and difficulty in accessing the information on how UNICEF’s products fulfill the needs of end users. There are now more children in need of humanitarian assistance than at any other time since the Second World War. Kits that Fit is exploring communications and supply chain innovations that will empower people to share what they really need to start the road to recovery. The briefing session will share learning from the first pilot being conducted in Kenya, which focuses on WASH kits to address continuous humanitarian needs.
2. HLA: The Power of Knowledge in Humanitarian Logistics
8 May 24 (16:00-17:30) UTC+2
HLA supports the development and sharing of knowledge to ensure that aid reaches those in need faster and more cost-effectively and enables dramatic improvements in aid supply chains through improved coordination, collaboration, and connection. Shared knowledge will augment resource pooling that cuts waste from aid supply chains and empowers private, public, academic, and aid sector engagement in aid delivery through locally developed innovations.
This session will bring together key experts to share learning and outcomes from their work on knowledge sharing in humanitarian supply chain and logistics contexts.
Registration for HNPW opens at the beginning of February.
Health and Humanitarian Logistics Conference 2024
HHL 2024 will take place again in East Africa in late September or early October. Country/venue to be confirmed.
SECTOR NEWS
The Next Generation of Humanitarian
The University Surge Support Group has recently launched an initiative in tandem with HNPW 2024 to Humanitarian Aid is a field that increasingly receives attention at universities and colleges. More and more students and youth are interested in contributing their skills, knowledge, and expertise to support those in need and the humanitarian community in general. Students from a wide variety of backgrounds are investigating, developing, experimenting, and innovating topics in the field of humanitarian aid. However, it is not always easy for this generation to connect with humanitarians. Or -vice versa- for humanitarian organizations to tap into this potential.
Read the full interview here.
Jobs
We are recruiting!
Membership Manager (Freelance): to lead HLA membership strategy, ensuring that benefits are delivered. You’ll help retain and enhance memberships and partnerships, enabling HLA to promote its work and meet its objectives. The post will engage with a range of stakeholders, both internally and externally. Knowledge of current best practices for charity membership management is desirable.
Communications Executive (Initially, on a part-time volunteer basis): to support our new communications strategy. We are seeking people with several years of communications experience, ideally in the aid sector, although that is not essential. The post would help to create content for our monthly newsletter, website, and social media – principally LinkedIn, to research knowledge topics and support our Knowledge Portal.
For further information, contact: sadia.labonno@humanitarianlogistics.org
Logistics Coordinator – Surge Team
Job Purpose: To respond quickly and flexibly to new and existing emergencies and provide on-the-ground logistics support to emergency operations. To fill appropriate gaps in non-emergency programs and existing chronic emergencies.
Job Location: Members of Concern’s Surge Team will be deployed to various Concern country programs for varying time periods ranging from six weeks up to six months. If not deployed, team members will work from home.
Contract: 2 year full-time fixed-term contract.
Concern Worldwide encourages all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply.
Deadline: End January 2024
Click here for further information and to apply.