Volunteers to help developing countries with healthcare supply chains

25 Aug 2009

This is a professional development opportunity with a difference.  The Logistics Association of Australia (LAA) have partnered with The Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) to offer the Supply Chain International Development Program.

Aiming to support CHAI’s goal of strengthening healthcare supply chains in developing countries, the program facilitates the placement of volunteer supply chain professionals in jobs or projects where there is a need for supply chain and logistics training and development.

Developing countries continue to struggle with efficient distribution of essential healthcare supplies.  A lack of specialised knowledge in supply chain management, limited availability and integrity of data, an absence of performance measurement metrics and limited infrastructure and technology are some of the biggest challenges they face.

Forming a global supply chain team, CHAI aims to empower governments to build cost-efficient, effective and sustainable national healthcare supply chains. 

Volunteers get to work within another country’s culture and environment, take on a new personal and professional experience, and develop mentoring, leadership and interpersonal skills.

Employers supporting staff to take part in the Supply Chain International Development Program are able to align corporate social responsibility with specialised accelerated staff development.

Depending on the country and the project, volunteers are able to work for anywhere between two weeks and several months.  As well as working on directly HIV/AIDS related projects, CHAI strives to address other issues that must be overcome in order to turn the tide on AIDS/HIV.

In the 22 countries where CHAI operates, expertise from across the range of supply chain activity is needed.  Because volunteer positions involve working with ministries of health and other implementing partners, communication, confidence, resourcefulness and the ability to work independently are highly regarded.

Two of CHAI’s current projects are:

Helping rebuild the public healthcare system in Liberia
CHAI and others are working to rebuild the public healthcare system, which was devastated by war.  This includes re-establishing basic policies and processes like drug registration and quality assurance, developing a long term supply chain strategy, upgrading warehouse facilities and formalizing processes like forecasting and procurement.

Eliminating malaria in Cambodia
Together with the National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control CHAI is working to progress malaria control activities.  This includes advisory support for procuring, storing and distributing essential malaria-preventing commodities.

Find out more, apply or register your interest here.