Supply chains

Collaboration is key to creating sustainable supply chains that can deliver essential supplies to children.

Two smiling girls play in front of their new school built with plastic bricks made out of recycled plastic, in Sangouine, a village in the West of Côte d'Ivoire.
UNICEF/UN0334295/Frank Dejongh

The challenge

How can we ensure that a child in a remote village has timely access to routine, quality-assured vaccines – not only today, but also tomorrow? 

Can we envision a world in which every child at risk of malaria sleeps under a long-lasting insecticidal bed net; and all girls and boys have access to math books that can prepare them with skills for future employment?  

Our work does not stop at delivery. There is more work to do to avoid disruptions in supply chains, and to connect scalable solutions to under-recognized or difficult problems. Meanwhile, we need these solutions to be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.  

Our challenges call on collaboration – with experts and practitioners across industries, businesses, governments, financiers and donors – and above all, open eyes and ears to the evolving needs of children and young people. 

The solutions

We know that each country and each community is different, and every child is unique. We also know that there is not one, but many solutions.

UNICEF works with governments and partners, including Gavi, the Global Fund, USAID, the World Bank, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, private sector companies and many others, to accelerate results for children. 

Our public and private sector partners build upon our and each other's strengths to address the diverse needs of children, so that coming generations can enjoy their rights to health, education and protection.

 

Resources

Supply chains save lives

This publication outlines eight recommendations to overcome supply chain barriers and accelerate children’s access to the supplies and treatments they need.

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Policy on Environmental and Social Standards in Programming

Principles, accountabilities and responsibilities for upholding environmental and social standards across all UNICEF’s programmes and activities.

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Dashboard: Reduction of plastic waste in delivery of ITNs

How UNICEF is reducing plastic waste and saving money with bulk packing.

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UNICEF Supply Scope 3 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baseline

A comprehensive assessment of the Greenhouse Gas emissions embedded in UNICEF’s supply chains. 

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