The Supply Chain and Transport Industries community works to chart pathways for resilient, sustainable and inclusive supply system solutions.
This community is a high-level group of peers from across the supply chain and transport ecosystem, dedicated to identifying initiatives where private-public sector collaboration and collective action can accelerate positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.
Industry Focus
Facilitating global trade in a volatile and dynamic landscape requires agility and resilience. As the world grapples with the socio-economic crisis unfolding before us, transport and supply system stakeholders are finding themselves squarely in the public eye and are experiencing unique challenges.
The Forum`s diverse and growing Supply Chain and Transport Industries community comprising ports, shipowners, forwarders, integrators and logistics providers enables leaders from the public and private sector, alongside international organisations and civil society to form exceptional, cross-cutting communities. We collaborate at speed and scale to generate value through environmental, social and economic impact initiatives.
Together, supply chain and transport leaders from across the supply eco-system are able to share learnings and identify how pre-competitive collective action can be best leveraged to “build back better”. The implications of accelerating adoption of 21st century technology, sharing data for common good, and taking collective action to mitigate further disruption and systemic shock – all topics in sharp focus for this heterogenous community of leading global actors.
Building resilience, and accelerating pathways to a sustainable industry transition have resulted in a thematically focused portfolio of initiatives. The socio-economic value of multi-stakeholder collective action is being viewed by leaders as increasingly important for resilient growth.
Aside from the longer-term action being undertaken to address systemic challenges, here we highlight two immediate-term collective action initiatives. These private-public efforts are resulting in significant common good through inclusive responses that enable protection of life for our most vulnerable:
With global supply chains facing historic levels of disruption, triggered by climate change, the ongoing public health crisis, all exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine and resulting refugee crisis, building resilience for humanitarian supply chains to facilitate delivery of lifesaving supplies is imperative. Bold and innovative collective action from multinational companies, governments, and humanitarian organisations is needed for inclusive and efficient distribution of aid and relief.
Recognizing this need, the Executive Director of UNICEF, the President of the World Economic Forum and industry leaders from the Forum`s Supply Chain & Transport community, co-signed a charter in support of humanitarian supply chain resilience, with the goal of ensuring continued access to essential supplies for vulnerable populations. The full charter including all the signatories can be accessed here. We encourage companies wishing to contribute to the impact to contact us.
“The international transport industry has been one of UNICEF’s strongest partners in ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments. We need that same spirit of solidarity now to prevent supply chain disruptions that threaten the most vulnerable children’s right to vaccines, learning materials, and other vital humanitarian supplies.”
— Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director
“The pandemic illustrated how connected we all are. Increasing global shocks highlight the need for more collective action and coordination to build resilience, mitigate risk and enable inclusive growth especially amongst the worlds` most vulnerable communities. Value creating, multi-stakeholder collaboration, facilitating both short-term action and contributing to long-term societal and economic resilience, are of increasing significance - the Forum commends this vital leadership commitment of our Supply Chain & Transport community.”
– Borge Brende, President, World Economic Forum
Since 2020 the unprecedented magnitude of the ongoing pandemic necessitated innovative and bold collective action from multinational organizations, governments, and industries for inclusive and efficient distribution of safe vaccines. With the lives and livelihoods of millions across the globe depending on multiple stakeholders harnessing the power of collective action – whether, in the field of health delivery, goods delivery, or humanitarian service delivery, the logistics sector and UNICEF plays a central role in vaccine distribution.
Recognizing this need, CEOs of the Supply Chain & Transport Industry Action Group from across the shipping, aviation, and logistics industry, the Executive Director of UNICEF, and the President of the World Economic Forum, co-signed a Charter for Inclusive Vaccine Distribution in support of UNICEF and COVAX. The full charter including all signatories can be accessed here.
Contact
For more information about the Supply Chain & Transport Industry including how to join us please contact:
Jiten Vyakarnam
Platform Curator, Supply Chain & Transport Industry
Email: Jiten.Vyakarnam@weforum.org
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