Antananarivo, 15 November 2024 – UNICEF and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance) are working together to eliminate bottlenecks in customs and import procedures for medical supplies in Madagascar. Two workshops in Tamatave and Antananarivo brought together government officials, the private sector, and partners to address inefficiencies and explore practical solutions.
Despite previous efforts, importing essential goods like medicines remains slow, costly, and complicated due to administrative, logistical, and regulatory hurdles. These delays disrupt humanitarian interventions, preventing timely delivery of medicines, food, and other critical supplies to vulnerable communities.
The three-day workshops provided a platform to assess the current supply chain environment and internal processes, and to identify practical, easily implementable solutions for streamlining procedures. The initiative also included a field visit to the port of Tamatave, enabling participants to gain first-hand insights into the factors contributing to delays and inefficiencies, as well as opportunities for acceleration and improvement.
Key recommendations were developed to enhance coordination and streamline customs clearance processes for humanitarian supplies, with the goal of implementation by 2025. UNICEF, a long-standing partner of Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health, emphasized that this effort is critical to ensuring efficient delivery of assistance to beneficiaries, particularly those in remote areas.
Delays in customs clearance not only hinder the timely implementation of programs like vaccination campaigns but also lead to increased costs, such as demurrage fees, and reduce the shelf life of essential products.
This collaborative effort between UNICEF and the Alliance underscores the importance of coordinated action between government, private sector, and development partners. By improving the efficiency of supply chains, the initiative aims to ensure that children across Madagascar have access to the vaccines and essential supplies they urgently need.