Global Health Supply Chain – Technical Assistance (GHSC-TA)

The Challenge

Efficient, sustainable supply chains depend on professional, well-trained supply chain workforces to ensure the right products get where they are needed at the right time. However, staffing, technology, and other gaps in these systems in many low- to middle-income countries limit their effectiveness.

Overview and Objectives

URC serves as a subcontractor to Chemonics on the Global Health Supply Chain (GHSC) – Francophone Task Order (TO) and two other task orders related to systems strengthening, which were awarded under the GHSC – Technical Assistance Multi-Award IDIQ.

Task Order – Francophone

The Francophone TO is working to improve the performance, efficiency, and sustainability of national health supply chains and to promote national and regional collaboration among supply chain stakeholders. It has provided specialized supply chain expertise to Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Senegal, and other West Africa Francophone countries, such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, and Togo. The activity supports the goals of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, and FP2020.

Across these countries, the Francophone TO is enhancing the capacity of health professionals and institutions to ensure timely access to quality essential health products and services, improve in-country and regional collaboration and coordination, and support the global health security agenda. The Francophone TO also is providing customized support in each country based on the assessed gaps and needs, in consultation with the national governments and USAID missions.

In Benin, URC is strengthening country management of health commodities, providing technical assistance needed to ensure the long-term availability of health commodities in public and private services. This includes workforce development and supporting ministries of finance so countries are able to manage their supply chain processes.

Task Order – Global Health Systems Strengthening

Task Order – Strengthening the Health Commodity Supply Chain System

Achievements

URC’s Francophone TO achievements in Benin include:

• Supporting the improved implementation of the national strategic plan for the health product supply chain and the Logistics and Economic Evaluation Report for SoBAPS, the Société Béninoise d’Approvisionnement des Produits de Santé;
• Supporting the development of a Young Logistician Professionals Program (YLPP) through training and placement of 34 logisticians;
• Supporting pharmacovigilance training to monitor COVID-19 patients. This training, conducted with the World Health Organization, was provided to a combined total of 283 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and midwifes in the public and private sectors;
• Developed standard operating procedures for improved governance at all levels of the supply chain, developed more reliable management information systems, and improved utilization of data for decision-making; and
• Provided technical assistance to health facilities in inventory management, quantification, and supply planning, distribution, monitoring and evaluation, and data visibility.