Humanitarian Supply Management System
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SECOND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS Geneva, 10-11 July 2002 IMPACT FOR THE AMERICAS More
than sixty logistics, IT and
Management experts from UN agencies, humanitarian NGOs and the private sector
met for the second time to promote transparency in supply management by
exchanging logistical information and to review progress made on recommendations
adopted at the first meeting of logistical support systems (LSS), convened by
PAHO in 2001. Standardization of classification and coding of relief items was at the forefront of the scene. No data exchange is possible without agreement on how to logically organize the wide variety of humanitarian items into a hierarchy of categories and subcategories, assigning each a unique easy-to-use code. The promoters of SUMA in the Americas will remember the endless negotiations between SUMA and DALIS, a long-defunct logistical system, to reach the present classification system, which is useful but arbitrary. Obviously, the time has come to reopen this Pandora’s Box and adopt a global rather than a regional system. A decision by the working group on classification standards, expected by late September, is a prerequisite for redesigning the new SUMA as the global Logistical Support System! Coordination among logistics experts also received attention. The role of the logistics officer is a challenging one and is often under-recognized. Communication among practitioners is essential. And OCHA has established an electronic consultation group, which will be of tremendous value for sharing experiences. PAHO will arrange for interested SUMA experts to register in this by-invitation-only forum. Volunteers are sought to promote and moderate bilingual discussions. The so-called "Global SUMA" project led by WHO, based on the model of SUMA in the Americas, WHO, PAHO, WFP and OCHA, have proposed a three-year project to redesign the software to serve as a common logistical support system for interagency coordination and to develop local capacity in several pilot countries. Scant progress has been made, as no funding has yet been received for global activities, however, the cohesion and solidarity of the four sponsoring agencies in support to this concept and the attitude of other partners and donors was very encouraging. Concrete developments are expected by the end of the year. The Americas can only benefit from the rest of the world focusing its attention on the current SUMA software and supporting needed changes. Keeping up with the changes in technology and the increased sophistication of the users is a challenge that PAHO, a health agency, finds overwhelming given competing priorities and scarcer resources. Finally, both participants and donors recognized the experience of FUNDESUMA and how this NGO model has complemented the capabilities of larger UN organizations. Through FUNDESUMA, SUMA volunteers in the Americas demonstrated their leadership. The challenge is now to export this expertise and experience to different cultures and environments, consolidating our regional achievement in transparency and accountability in the management of supplies into a global initiative. Subscribe yourself now to our Discussion Forum on Logistics on the Internet, visit the Reliefweb site at: http://webconferences.itu.int:80/~logistics
See also Summary of first LSS-meeting. |
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Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO) Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) |
Humanitarian Supply Management System Sistema de Manejo Suministros Humanitarios |
