📋 Tender Overview
With the support of the European Union, HI provides other NGOs with a road and river transport service to provide aid to populations in need.
Around 8.8 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in Mali in 2023. However, it has become increasingly difficult for humanitarian actors to deliver humanitarian aid due to the changing security context in the country. To improve the situation, HI offers a free goods transport service to other NGOs present in the country. This service is made possible thanks to help from the European Union and makes it possible to deliver aid to the most remote villages. Seydou Diallo participates as a conveyor: he accompanies the convoys and ensures that the equipment arrives safely.
Conveyor: an essential profession for safe and fast deliveries
Seydou Diallo started working as a conveyor for HI in Mali in 2020. His role is to be present throughout the convoy. He assists with the loading of the goods in the city of departure and ensures that everything is in order: quantity, weight of the packages, etc. Then, he accompanies the drivers of local companies contracted by HI, to liaise with the organization's teams remaining in Bamako. Once he arrives at his destination, he controls the unloading of the material.
“At the time I started working with HI, I was unemployed. I applied to increase my income and meet household expenses. Subsequently, I had the opportunity to have more stable jobs, but HI never let me down. I was able to continue to carry out one or two convoys per month. When I was not available, HI let me carry out my other professional activities and as soon as I was free again, I notified them. It's an operation that has suited me a lot and that I really appreciate. »
Seydou saw things gradually change. At first, he faced some difficulties, such as when the goods that were to be transported were not those he received when loading. But today, the organization is well established and Seydou works with teams who are used to collaborating and appreciate each other.
Train Malian professionals
In 2023, HI has trained 400 people who participate in convoys, such as drivers, handlers and conveyors. These training courses focused on humanitarian access, risks and security management of transport in Mali as well as the humanitarian supply chain. The organization also carried out risk education sessions, so that participants know how to identify dangerous situations and know the behaviors to adopt in the sensitive areas where they go.
“The fact that HI does not have its own vehicles and that they only use local transporters is a plus for the population. This helps to boost the Malian economy and provide jobs, I think that is important. Everyone wins ,” rejoices Seydou.
Serving populations in a degraded context
In Mali, HI has developed logistical expertise and detailed knowledge of the field and its stakeholders. This knowledge is put at the service of other NGOs, through the delivery of humanitarian goods (medical products, food, etc.) by road and river transport. In a country where the context is particularly complex due to degraded security conditions, HI delivers these products to the most remote villages, where they are then distributed to communities by NGOs using the platform's transport services.
“It’s the HI teams who tell us when we can leave and who keep us informed of the situation ahead of time on the road. For my part, I keep them informed of the progress of the convoy. I am the eyes and ears of HI on the convoy and I have therefore gradually been given responsibility over the course of the project ,” explains Seydou.
In 2023, HI transported around 1,200 tonnes of humanitarian equipment, despite numerous access problems, particularly in the North. This represented 165 road operations and 15 river operations. This secure, fast and cost-effective service has been used by more than 40 organizations.
This routing and transport project is being implemented thanks to the support of the European Union. The European Union and its Member States are the largest donors of humanitarian aid: https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu . Through the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. With its headquarters in Brussels and an international network of field offices, it provides assistance to the most vulnerable people based on humanitarian needs.
The views and opinions expressed, however, are those of HI and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the responsible authority can be held responsible.
