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On March 20 and 21 in Lima, Peru, more than 32 participants representing 22 entities from various sectors (government, humanitarian, private, and academic) met to discuss and validate the main logistical preparedness gaps observed in the country when natural disasters occur. 

Context

In July 2023, the World Food Programme-led Logistics Cluster officially activated the Field Based Preparedness Project (FBPP) in Peru, in close collaboration with the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI). Due to its expertise in the field of humanitarian logistics, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the Logistics Cluster global lead agency. 

Peru presents a unique and significant risk factor, as it is the third country with the highest risk of earthquakes worldwide and the thirteenth country in the world with the highest risk of natural disasters, according to the World Risk Index. The main objective of this project is to strengthen the country's supply chain and logistics capacities by improving inter-institutional collaboration, ensuring an effective response to emergencies.   

Workshop goals

During the two-day workshop, the participants had the opportunity to analyze together through round tables, various categories of gaps previously identified by the participant sectors. This methodology sought to strengthen collaboration between these actors, and encourage the contribution and consolidation of ideas to improve coordination in emergency preparedness in Peru.   

Workshops goals: 

  • Identify/Validate common gaps and challenges based on the vision and experience of different key response actors in Peru.  

  • Develop and validate a comprehensive Logistics Readiness Action Plan, including the prioritization of gaps and the definition of a roadmap.   

  • Strengthen the network of contacts between emergency logistics specialists from various sectors. 

"I found it very interesting that a group of people who are immersed in the world of humanitarian and logistical aid are coming together to all this. Through dialogue, we were able to share experiences and propose improvement options for all our processes. This workshop allows us to project ourselves towards working together in the future..."   

Workshop participant.   

Participants 

The participation of the key actors in the workshop was distributed as follows: 

Important to share that the gender balance was made up of 56% women and 44% men. 

Taller de Preparación Logístuca para Emergencias

Activities and key potential results

The roundtables generated according to the field of experience of each participant discussed the gaps identified in five main categories. These gaps emerged as part of the work done at the beginning of the Field-Based Preparedness Project in the country.   

After a general mapping, interviews, analysis, and compilation, these initial gaps were reached and validated in this workshop after hard work made by key actors of various response entities. 

Below are the five categories of gaps and potential solutions discussed by the roundtable during the workshop:  

  1. Purchasing & Sourcing  

    • Gaps: Insufficient exchange of supplier and product information between response entities (particularly in decentralized regions).    

    • Potential solutions: Share a unified database of trusted vendors.    

  2. Storage and digitization of information in systems  

    • Gap: Analyze available platforms and ensure multi-agency access to them.     

    • Potential solutions: Creation of agency warehouses in SIGBAH with the quantity of stock for emergencies.    

  3. Transportation, outsourcing of logistics activities, and human resources  

    • Gap: High dependence on land routes for the distribution of items and emergency response. Need for a contingency plan and alternatives.     

    • Potential solutions: Coordinate the cooperation of government entities to make transportation by air or water feasible with units of the Armed Forces and the PNP.    

  4. Import & International Transport  

    • Gap: High daily storage cost when importing items by air or sea until they are cleared from customs.   

    • Potential solutions: Reach agreements and strategic alliances with bonded warehouses. Promote the discount or donation of the cost of storage if it is for emergency care. 

  5. Planning & Coordination  

    • Gap: Lack of coordination between the public and humanitarian sectors to share who is doing what and where at the operational level.      

    • Potential solutions: Encourage operational working groups with the participation of the entities involved to unify processes and establish networks of contacts.     

"This is an excellent opportunity to create a space for conversation between the main actors in humanitarian logistics. It was possible to highlight the problems and perspectives that each participating sector has. I think the main conclusion is that information on regulations, processes, among others, should be socialized..."  

Workshop participant.   

Workshop evaluation 

4.84/5 was the overall satisfaction of the workshop according to the participants. This was drawn from a survey conducted at the end, to validate the perspectives of all participants.   

In the same way, 94% of the participants were able to validate the methodology used and the fulfillment of the objectives proposed at the beginning of the workshop. This represented a great achievement of the work done. 

Here are some comments from the participants:  

- "These spaces for joint interaction with all sectors of humanitarian response should continue to be promoted..." 

- "A very agile and social methodology, which strengthens our soft and strong skills. I would appreciate it if this type of face-to-face interaction continues to be maintained, which enriches this collaborative experience much more..." 

Next steps

This workshop represented a breakthrough in the identification and validation of gaps that should be prioritized by the various actors responding to natural disasters in Peru. In co-leadership with INDECI and WFP Peru, this workshop turned out to be a solid first step towards better logistics preparedness in the country, which we hope to continue working on under the Field Based Preparedness Project (FBPP).   

Once the documentation and contributions provided by the participants during the workshop have been compiled, the Multisectoral Logistics Plan will be generated, which will begin the second phase of the FBPP. In this second stage, efforts will focus on the implementation of solutions and the follow-up of key actors, following the recommendations given as potential solutions during the workshop.   

For more info about the project, visit: https://logcluster.org/en/peru

Written by: Carlos Sousa-Lennox, Regional Information Management Officer for LAC.