Consulting Service for the Development of Supply Chain Inventory Management Policy an Stockpiling Strategy (ACDC-WB-2025-221)

AFRICA CENTRES FOR DISEASE CONTROL SUPPORT PROGRAM TO COMBAT CURRENT AND FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS PROJECT

Reference Number: ET-AUC-510470-cs-indv

1. Background

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) play a crucial role in coordinating the continent’s public health response and building resilient health systems. As a leading continental agency, Africa CDC recognizes the importance of having a robust and efficient supply chain system to support its critical functions effectively.

An effective inventory management policy is crucial for organizations like Africa CDC as it ensures the systematic tracking and management of essential health supplies and resources. This policy facilitates timely access to critical items during health emergencies, enabling rapid response to outbreaks and disease threats. By maintaining accurate records of stock levels, usage rates, and expiry dates, the organization can optimize resource allocation, minimize waste, and ensure that medical supplies are available where and when they are needed most. This proactive approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports data-driven decision-making, allowing Africa CDC to anticipate future needs and respond effectively to emerging health challenges.

In conjunction with a robust stockpiling strategy, an inventory management policy strengthens the resilience of the health supply chain. By strategically accumulating essential supplies in anticipation of potential health crises, the Africa CDC can mitigate the risks associated with supply chain disruptions caused by unforeseen events such as pandemics or natural disasters. This preparedness not only saves lives but also fosters collaboration with African Union Member States (AU MS), NGOs, and international partners, creating a unified response framework. Ultimately, the combination of a well-defined inventory management policy and a comprehensive stockpiling strategy empowers Africa CDC to safeguard public health across the continent, ensuring that resources are readily available to protect communities during critical times.

• Purpose

The purpose of Inventory Management is to lay down procedures and processes for the procurement management and control over inventory (stock) items in accordance with all relevant regulations and legislation and other policies and directives. The envisaged outcome is an efficient and effective control and inventory management tool for the supply chain division.

• To improve the forecasting – the processes of estimating the right vaccines, in the right quantities for a specific procurement period, in a timely and accurate manner.
• To make rational decisions in response to service delivery, budgetary, service providers’ competency, institutional capacities, and other attributes.
• To ensure uninterrupted availability of appropriate vaccines at all levels with the option of notification of low stock.
• To decrease stock outs and over stocking and hence minimize wastage.
• To improve cost-effectiveness

• Objectives

The overall objective is to develop comprehensive frameworks to guide Africa CDC’s internal inventory management and stockpiling of health commodities.

Specific objectives are to:

• Assess Africa CDC’s current inventory practices, systems, and gaps.
• Develop an Africa CDC-specific Inventory Management Policy.
• Develop an Africa CDC-specific Stockpiling Strategy.
• Recommend operational and technological improvements to support the implementation of the policy and strategy.

• Scope of Work

The consulting firm shall:

1. Conduct an internal situational assessment of Africa CDC’s inventory management processes.
2. Draft an Inventory Management Policy defining governance structures, roles, SOPs, performance indicators, and compliance mechanisms.
3. Draft a Stockpiling Strategy outlining essential commodities, stock levels, replenishment triggers, rotation, and disposal procedures.
4. Facilitate stakeholder consultations with relevant Africa CDC departments.
5. Revise and finalize documents based on stakeholder feedback.
6. Propose a training plan for Africa CDC staff on the new policy and strategy.

• Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

The firm shall deliver:

1. Inception Report.
2. Internal Assessment Report.
3. Draft Inventory Management Policy.
4. Draft Stockpiling Strategy.
5. Validation Workshop Report.
6. Finalized Inventory Management Policy and Stockpiling Strategy documents.
7. Training Plan for Africa CDC staff including training materials