When disaster strikes, all too often there are not enough relief supplies available to meet demand. This can mean that people die needlessly, waiting for aid to arrive.
And when the TV appeals have raised the cash, and the aid materials have been purchased, all too often we are flying this aid in to Africa from China, India or Europe at an unnecessary cost – both to donors and to the environment. The emergency aid that is sent this way generates massive Aid Miles and does little to create a culture of self-reliance and sustainability in the areas where these goods are most used.
Advance Aid’s solution is to pre-position emergency relief materials in strategic African locations. The point is not only to save thousands of potential victims, but also to have all these materials manufactured in Africa in order to give much-needed stimulus to the African economies.
This economic stimulus will create jobs. And by creating jobs it will build wealth and resilience to disasters within African communities. This in turn will reduce the need for aid to be sent in response to future disasters.
Advance Aid acts as a bridge between donors, non-governmental voluntary organisations and African manufacturers, providing flexible procurement solutions which will give African companies the opportunity to win supply contracts in realistic timescales.
Find out more about our work on Trade and Aid, Survival Homes, Pre-positioning supplies and Collaborating with partners.
