Supporting local economies, UNICEF procures a net worth of US$29.5 million from MENA local markets
Scaling up its supply operations to meet the increasing needs of children and families in the Middle East and North Africa region
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- العربية
AMMAN, 1 SEPTEMBER 2020 – To support the local economies in the region which were impacted by the pandemic, UNICEF procures a net worth of US$29.5 million from the local markets. These supplies include personal protective equipment such as hand sanitizers, surgical caps, surgical masks, gowns, gloves, soap, thermometers. Other items were also procured local including educational material, water and sanitation hygiene items and warm winter clothes.
UNICEF scaled up its supply operations to meet the increasing needs of children and families in the Middle East and North Africa region. Despite the movement restrictions and transport constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF has delivered nearly 1.6 million units of supplies across the region since the start of the pandemic.
“We always explored opportunities to identify products and procure supplies locally from the countries in the region, for many reasons, including quick delivery, cost saving, and supporting local economies. This approach is more sustainable in the long run in a region that is capable to do that” said Silvia Uneddu, UNICEF Regional Chief of Supply for the Middle East and North Africa. “Now, and because of the increased demand and limited resources due to COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital to maintain the high quality of the items and supplies.” She added.
Due to the level of emergency and constraints in the supply chains imposed by COVID-19 pandemic, local procurement has been further explored and strengthened; which in turn enhanced the capacity to respond to this emergency in a more timely and effective manner.
UNICEF procures supplies from distributors and local manufacturers; it also connects manufacturers of the quality melt-blown/nonwoven fabric with the local manufacturers of personal protective equipment who would like to increase their production but have limited access to raw materials.
To continue its response activities across the region in support of combating COVID-19, UNICEF in the MENA region is appealing today for US$198.5 million to cover the funding gap of the total appeal.
