SUPPLY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Local Delivery Global ... - Unicef

Partnering to strengthen the nutrition
supply chain
Peanut-based Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF),
has helped transform the treatment of severe malnutrition,
the cause of more than half of all childhood deaths
globally. With just one internationally qualified supplier
of the peanut paste up until 2008, it was not possible
for UNICEF to meet global demand for the product.
Supply, working closely with Programme, began a competitive
bidding process to identify new suppliers who
could produce similar peanut-based treatments. New
suppliers were identified in South Africa, Kenya, India
and the United States, as well as several franchises
of the original company, notably in Malawi, the Niger,
Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic. These franchises
have set up local production with a combined annual
capacity of 5,640 metric tonnes (enough to feed
410,000 children) and increasing.
In 2008, Supply also developed and rolled out a
forecasting tool to collect estimated RUTF coverage
and demand for future years. Data provided from 52
countries will be used to inform manufacturers about
expected demand, and encourage them to establish appropriate
production targets.
With any new product, quality standards have to be established.
In the case of RUTF, working with Médecins
Sans Frontières, the Clinton Foundation, WHO, WFP
and independent experts from the food technology,
food safety and nutrition sectors, UNICEF is developing
detailed quality specifications for manufacturers.
In 2008, Supply also commenced a research study in
conjunction with Duke University, Programme staff,
freight forwarders, RUTF producers, UN partners,
governments and NGOs, to investigate all aspects of
the nutrition supply chain. The goal is to move nutrition
commodities from manufacturers to children suffering
from severe malnutrition as quickly and efficiently
as possible. RUTF was chosen as the research focus
due to the continuing food crisis in the Horn of Africa.
Since 2006 the crisis has led to a dramatic increase in
10-month-old, Bereket Geyidere, receives peanut-based RUTF for
the treatment of severe malnutrition at the Segen Clinic, Ethiopia.
demand. In just two years, UNICEF’s annual procurement
of the peanut paste increased by 450 per cent, to
11,000 tonnes.
The research has identified potential gaps and areas
for improvement in the supply chain, including how
innovative solutions, such as SMS technology, can
ensure that these vital supplies reach children quickly.
In 2008, RapidSMS technology was trialled in Ethiopia
to monitor the distribution of the peanut paste, compiling
mobile text message data into real-time correlated
reports. Gaps and stock-outs at local health posts were
reported to a central warehouse and responded to immediately,
instead of weeks later.
Another important objective of the research is developing
a supply chain model that can be applied to other
commodities and shared with external partners. This is
being facilitated through an online
platform where knowledge can be
exchanged between members of the
Humanitarian Nutrition Cluster and
other partners.
SUPPLY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 15