Forward by Chris Saunders OBE, Chief Executive of international development charity, Transaid.
Another year arrives with its own particular set of challenges and Transaid intensifies its efforts across more countries as we embark on ten years of official operation as an NGO specialising in implementing transport solutions for development in some of the world’s poorest areas.
The past 10 years have demonstrated to me how sharing knowledge, pooling resources and utilising the best of UK practises of this well-oiled industry has, sometimes overwhelmingly, transformed the lives of men, women and children across the developing world. The charity’s biggest asset, by far, is working within an industry which leads the world in Logistics and Transport and we are indebted to the continued support from over 25 contributing member organisations who dedicate their expertise, resources, time and knowledge to the many projects Transaid undertakes in Africa.
The problems we undertake are diverse, with each one underpinned with our philosophy “Transport for Life”. Improved health delivery is a critical factor in Africa’s development and our work with the public sector to improve efficiency and output remain an important part of our projects. Nigeria sees Transaid working alongside Save the Children to re-introduce routine vaccinations as part of the Ministry’s regular health programme. A shocking 2% of children in northern Nigeria are fully immunised against life threatening but easily preventable diseases. Transaid’s vital role will determine how existing transport can be better utilised to enhance vaccine delivery from the central stores to remote and isolated rural areas.
Efficient management systems, standards, regulations, and the skills to match are desperately needed to bring about change in the private sector too. I am not the first to mention that poverty cannot be reduced in the world’s poorest countries without significant economic growth, and I am sure you will agree when I say that African countries will remain uncompetitive as long transport costs remain 200% to 300% higher than those in UK & Europe. This is largely due to low levels of operating skills and weak transport infrastructure. Add to this the knowledge that road crashes kill on the scale of malaria & tuberculosis, and that road deaths in poor countries are expected to rise by a staggering 80% by 2020.
Fundamental to solving many of these problems is something we, as an industry, take for granted. Integrity and planning is critical in the role of development and is something which is common practise for the industry here in the UK. Together with our member companies and organisations such as CILT, Transaid is able to affect many of the issues caused by inefficient transport and poor commercial driving with the implementation of our Transport Management System and the specialist training of commercial drivers across many divisions of public and private sector work.
Our Patron, HRH the Princess Royal, is unyielding in her passion about implementing change through the use of efficient, effective and sustainable transport solutions across the developing world. And central to the delivery of this, is the industry’s boundless and progressive support, enabling us to realise Transport for Life for thousands of families and communities who need it the most.
For information on Transaid projects, Transport Management Systems and their corporate initiatives, please log onto www.transaid.org
You can call Chris on +44 (0) 207 387 8136 or email him on chris@transaid.org
