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World Economic Forum
Muhtar Kent, CEO of TCCC, met with Rajat Gupta, then chair of the board of The Global Fund, to discuss how the private sector could become more engaged in The Global Fund’s mission to treat and prevent AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In thinking about how TCCC could best help The Global Fund, a novel idea emerged. Instead of “simply writing a check,” what if TCCC could share another critical resource: its expertise in supply chain management? -
The partnership begins to take shape*
At the Coca-Cola Company’s (TCCC) headquarters in Atlanta, a team of high-level executives agreed that supply chain management will be the focus of a new public-private partnership between TCCC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Photo Credit: Michael Pugh -
Supply chain challenges in Tanzania
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at The Global Fund released “An Audit Report on Global Fund Grants to Tanzania” which highlighted serious weaknesses in Tanzania's medical supply chain. -
MSD identified as a potential partner*
A team from The Global Fund, TCCC, and the Gates Foundation set up a series of stakeholder meetings in Dar es Salaam to explore potential areas for collaboration. The benefits of partnering with the Medical Stores Department (MSD) soon became apparent: not only was MSD a lynchpin in Tanzania’s health system, it was also led by Mr. Joseph Mgaya, a dynamic change agent who saw the potential value of TCCC’s supply chain expertise. -
"Direct Delivery" in Tanga begins
The pilot of the “direct delivery” of products from MSD to health facilities begins in the Tanga region of Tanzania. Once implemented nationwide, “direct delivery” would mean that instead of delivering goods to 100+ district warehouses, MSD would now be responsible for the delivery of products to more than 5,000+ health facilities. This drastic change in MSD’s operations would coincide with the budding partnership’s focus on improving supply chain management. -
The Rapid Assessment
In order to move the idea of the partnership from the conceptual level to something more concrete, TCCC funded a 4-week rapid assessment to identify potential areas of collaboration between MSD and TCCC. The consultant who conducted the assessment, Tielman Nieuwoudt of the Supply Chain Lab, had a working knowledge of supply chain management in both the public sector and TCCC, allowing him to identify opportunities for knowledge transfer that would propel the project forward. -
ADP joins the partnership*
After the rapid assessment revealed concrete opportunities for knowledge transfer, Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) was selected as an implementing partner to provide both subject matter expertise and full-time project management support. -
Phase I begins*
In Phase I of Project Last Mile (Aug 2010 – Jan 2011), a team from ADP worked with staff from MSD to complete an end-to-end assessment of MSD’s supply chain. After identifying major areas of improvement (i.e., planning, procurement, ordering, and delivery), the team worked to develop and pilot implementation plans that incorporated best practices from Coca-Cola bottlers in Tanzania and ADP’s supply chain expertise. -
Phase II begins*
In Phase II of Project Last Mile (May – Aug 2011), a team from Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) worked alongside staff from the Medical Stores Department (MSD) to target three work streams: (1) “Last Mile” logistics, (2) core planning, and (3) talent management. -
Yale begins process evaluation
With funding from TCCC, the Yale Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI) began a process evaluation of Project Last Mile in Tanzania to document the development of the partnership, identify key factors underlying project success, and assess the potential for scale-up of the partnership model. -
TCCC partners with (RED)
TCCC became a “Proud Partner” of (RED), which leverages corporate and consumer power to support The Global Fund’s fight against AIDS. As a Proud Partner, TCCC will donate a minimum of $1 million per year for the duration of (RED)’s campaign to deliver an AIDS Free Generation by 2015. Coca-Cola Joins the (RED) Family -
Congressional Briefing
TCCC was invited to present at a congressional briefing focused on The Global Fund's engagement with the private sector. During the briefing, a representative from TCCC described Project Last Mile's innovative partnership model. (RED) Goes to Washington Photo Credit: Ralph Alswang Photography -
Project Last Mile recognized at CGI
At the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, the Last Mile for Medicines partnership was honored as an effective and visionary new approach to private sector engagement in development. At the same time, the Yale online case study detailing the partnership model was released. -
Phase III launched
Phase III activities in Tanzania were launched, with the goal of ensuring successful integration of new tools and processes into MSD work, and promoting an effective transition plan to local ownership. -
Phase III Concludes
Phase III concluded with significant improvements at the Central MSD level. Liaisons were set up at Coca-Cola Kwanza and MSD to work together directly and foster the ongoing relationship between the two organizations.
