My contribution and vision regarding Supply Chain, technology and digitalization at the Humanitarian Forum NY September 22nd
Two days ago I participated in the round table on Supply Chain Management at the World Humanitarian Forum, 2020 New York. A diverse panel definitely in short of time for all the topics we were to cover.
Read more about my statements and points I wanted to convey based on the questions raised to me by Mr Neil Rodrigues, the moderator of the session. As well as an overview of my fellow panelist in the discussion around supply chain management.
World Humanitarian Forum - Round table, September 22nd 2020
12.30 – 13.30: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
“While organisations are seeking ways to optimize their delivery capabilities in order to mitigate as much as possible the consequences of emergency, professionals from throughout the sector need a better understanding of the concepts and implications of true transparency within the supply chain to better aid the integration of appropriate technological solutions and interoperable processes that are needed to meet current legislative and consumer demands for sustainability in the supply chain.”
See more about the round tables here
Moderator: Mr Neil Rodrigues, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain Operations at the International Rescue Committee
- Dr Diego Vega, Deputy Director, HUMLOG Institute
- Mr Muhammad Azhar Khan, Humanitarian Logistics Expert, Formerly Oxfam
- Mr Richard Sharp, CEO, RE: ACT Disaster Response
- Ms Claire Barnhoorn, CEO, Solvoz
- Ms Campbell Bright, Global Supply Chain and Project Management Leader, United Nations – African Union Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
- Ms Marie Houel, Head of Supply Department, Interagency Procurement Group, Solidarités International
- Mr Hans-Peter Teufers, Director, International Programs, UPS Foundation
The Round Table on Supply Chain Management
This questions raised by Mr Neil Rodrigues focused on transparency, digitalization, localization and collaboration. Critical topics shaping sustainable humanitarian supply chains of the future. Current during the COVID pandemic, we have more then ever an incredible opportunity to reshape in order to deliver better and achieve our goals of sustainability, improved supply chains, in an inclusive manner.
Covid-19 has already resulted in more collaboration in the sector. At the same time it placed additional challenges to localisation and sustainability.
No surprise for many my key points were related to the long standing need for procurement in aid to improve with attention towards the potential of technology and digitalization of Supply Chains. But before digging into that one, first an overview of all other speakers and their contributions.
Localisation of supply chains is vital for increased sustainability, new reforms in the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and UN for the training of local partners aim to improve this. Dr Diego Vega (Deputy Director of HUMLOG Institute) outlined how current reforms will improve supply chains in aid.
Bethan Canterbury of Re-Act Disaster Response spoke about the disruptions of the pandemic to globalisation. They have forced organisations to rethink their supply chains, especially with regards to last mile operations. What can we learn from recent operational experience to enhance the localization of humanitarian assistance.
Approximately 40% of yearly global air cargo is transported via passenger aircrafts and so when these were grounded as the pandemic took hold of the world, tons of necessary cargo was unable to reach its destination. With the risk of a 2nd wave now fast approaching, Ms Marie Houel (Head of Supply Department, Interagency Procurement Group, Solidarities International) addressed how NGOs, international organisations, private sector and governments can collaborate and innovate together for long-term and sustainable supply chains.
A recent article published by the World Economic Forum outlined the benefits that technology can bring to supply chains, especially with how complex they are in the modern age. But it also pointed out that new technologies can be overwhelming for leaders to figure out. Ms Campbell Bright (chief Supply Chain Management of UNAMID) gave her view on how these new techonologies can be adapted to suit individual needs for differing organisations, particularly humanitarian organizations.
Mr Muhammad Azhar Khan (Humanitarian Logistics Expert, Formerly Oxfam) continued about it’s cost. What would be the ways for smaller NGOs to benefit from new supply chain technologies without having to worry about the costs involved? How can we utilize technology to build more resilient supply chains?
Transparency in supply chains is becoming important in retail and commercial sectors, with 73% of millennials willing to pay more for sustainable fashion for example and ethical brands increasing their market share. The private sector has a lot of experience in transparency of supply chains. Mr Hans-Peter Teufers (Director, International Programs, UPS Foundation) addressed what lessons NGOs and international organisations can learn from the private sector in this regard as we work towards achieving the SDG’s in this decade of action?
Utilize the potential of technology and digitalization of supply chains to improve, as we adapt to new realities
Mr Neil Rodrigues asked me (as long term humanitarian and as Founder of Solvoz) to elaborate and share my vision on the following: “COVID has highlighted the long standing need for procurement in the aid sector to be as responsible and as efficient as possible. How can this be increasingly achieved going forward, utilizing the potential of technology and digitalization of supply chains, as we adapt to new realities?”
I think technology has opened so many possibilities. However technology in itself will not be the golden bullet, but definitely is the trigger that can enable improvements. But it will be us to define those improvements and emphasize what is required to achieve. Setting the scene, overcome and cross organizational boundaries and politics. We as humanitarians have to state our goal and things we desire to improve and we can enable those by technology.
Covid19 has shown in many respects the fragility of our supply chains in aid and became obvious that our supply chains have to be re-evaluated. Like many of those supply chains have been predominately EU or US centric, with major hubs located in the EU or USA as well as for example the heavily reliance on cargo on passenger planes – which are disrupted and hence disrupting our supply chains now.
It is therefore a no brainer to finally give hands and feet to the call for more localization in supply chain, like the previous speakers here and in this conference. This goes in various ways, and needs to go beyond staffing
- Obviously we have to redesign, and move away from relying predominant EU/US centric supply chain channels and design
- Systematically include local suppliers and manufacturers of supplies or enable cash based support as strategy for localization
- We have to SHARE and allow ourselves to make use of information and knowledge systematically beyond our organisational boundaries in supply chain, doing so not only sustainably but also responsibly and transparently (we have to overcome organisational politics in some ways.)
- Increase visibility of local solutions and shift from thinking in products – hence we will never be able to incorporate smart and/or local solutions based on a need to solve.
- Think in an enabling environment with partnerships instead of your organisational market scan up of suppliers up to providing the last mile delivery purely within one organizational entity and one team.
Besides the impact on supply chains, but we shouldn’t overlook the indirect impact such as disruption of basic services and in more general humanitarian assistance provision.
One of those is, close to my heart as a mother, is the impact on material health. With restrictions on travel and gatherings, unreliable practices and disrupted health provision, it threatens the lives of tens of thousands. Even if health systems systems are picking up – adapting and change, with disruptions in supply chains, we still can’t provide quality maternal and child health care. We should be ready when as new realities are emerging, and systems are adjusting, adopting to new realities, so should we.
The big positive here that there is such a wealth of expertise, and in my opinion humanitarian individuals can be characterized as very committed people to strengthen and enable responsible and sustainable supply chains in aid. And I think we all have a moral obligation to share our wealth of expertise and make use of connected and open systems – technology.
So practically we have to dare to move away from for example our agency specific procedures, agency specific kit compositions, our own agency specific vocabulary which complicates interoperable systems. We should allow ourselves to use one-another’s information and knowledge, operationalize partnerships, tap into the wealth of knowledge, but we have to do so systematically, creating new eco-systems.
Before waffling on, it all boils down that I think we have that moral obligation to share knowledge: and technology has never been more ready and available to do so – we have just have to commit [to localization], overcome institutional politics, reshape and show willingness into action. This is where it all starts, if we have the why and define our common goals and improvements to achieve – technology can enable this and whatever is needed can be build, adjusted, adopted – however technology in itself wont lead the way.
Outcome report World Humanitarian Forum 2020 New York
World Humanitarian Forum is presented as one of the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan fora in humanitarian aid and international development. As part of their objectives they advocate for critical knowledge-sharing. Contributions are believed as invaluable contributions for the future of the humanitarian and international development sectors. On their year-round platform of international knowledge exchange and digital series, they presented their Outcome report shortly after the conference.
Note, one day we will all be used to digital conferences. We might be used to the new normal. However still feels strange not seeing any audience, no real interaction to bring discussions forward or connect in person afterwards. If you ever wonder how the ‘backend’ of such a conference for us looked like… I made a picture and tweeted this right after the session…
https://twitter.com/ClaireBarnhoorn/status/1308461738136948737