Transaid delivers pharmaceutical supply chain strengthening project in Ethiopia

26th June 2025

Transaid has partnered with fellow nonprofit organisation American International Health Alliance (AIHA) on an exciting 12-month supply chain strengthening project, funded by The Gates Foundation, with Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services (EPSS).

The project will see Transaid work to build human resources capacity and support staff development within the EPSS. The Addis Ababa-based agency procures nearly one billion USD worth of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies each year, for delivery to more than 4,000 health facilities across the country – now the 10th most populous in the world.

Sam Clark, Head of Programmes for Transaid, says: “EPSS has a vision to be the most responsive and efficient pharmaceutical supply chain organisation in Africa by 2030, and this project directly supports that goal.

“After reviewing the EPSS’ policies and procedures last year, followed by a visit to meet with the key stakeholders and to see the operation for ourselves, we were able to identify specific actions where we can help to strengthen current practices.”

The project has so far included the development of a tailored implementation plan to guide the rollout of actions identified in the initial analysis, with clear responsibilities for all project partners and a tracking tool to measure inputs. The setting up of in-person and remote workshops to support knowledge exchange will form an important part of the implementation plan.

Clark explains: “The wealth of knowledge we can unlock through our corporate partners is second to none. Combined with everything we already know as an organisation about transport, logistics, and access to healthcare from three decades working across sub-Saharan Africa, it makes Transaid the perfect delivery partner for a project like this.”

EPSS has more than 70 years of experience in providing pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents, medical equipment and supplies to the Ethiopian people. Today the country is one of the fastest growing African economies, with its 112,00-mile road network undergoing significant expansion to support trade and logistics.