Annual Report: UNICEF – 2012 Supply Annual Report Supply Chains for Children
UNICEF
June 2013 – 82 pages

Excerpt from Introduction
“…Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF’s large supply chain network requires working on internal and external processes and procedures, and strengthening our interactions with the wide range of partners we collaborate with every day.

Internally, UNICEF is introducing new tools, approaches and technical capacities to optimise the supply chain activities we manage. Performance objectives such as reduced stock-outs, lower transport costs and timely delivery have been established and are monitored on a regular basis.

Externally, we are helping strengthen national supply chains in partnership with governments and other stakeholders. Together, we are optimising global supply chains by improving key interfaces and dependencies based on analysis and evidence. The testing of temperature-controlled sea shipments from supplier to implementing partner, streamlining packaging and deliveries, using text message alerts to warn of temperature breaches, improving the traceability and monitoring of products via barcoding, and strategic tendering for local transport provision will help us realise these goals. Building a professional network of supply chain managers is also critical to these achievements.

Strong supply chains will deliver better results for children and their families, and will support the realisation of their rights to health, education, nutrition and protection wherever they live…”
http://www.unicef.org/supply/index_report.html

Editor’s Note: The report notes that in 2012 UNICEF procured vaccines and supporting supplies valued at USD$1,053 billion, involving some 1.9 billion vaccine doses for 96 countries; 554.1 million immunization syringes, and USD$29.7 million worth of cold chain equipment.