Logistics

I've just working as a consultant and am making my first trips in April for some small NGOs to do research and assessments in places including Kosovo and Gaza.

Can anyone suggest some good places to go for insurance that would comprehensively cover the risks of working in conflict situations? In the past I've worked for the UN so this has been covered by the organisation.

I have been working as a logistician for two years, without much in the way of formal training. For the life of me, I still cannot work out the value of using bin cards. To be honest, I'm not really sure what to do with them.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), through their Humanitarian and Emergency Logistics Professionals (HELP) forum, have identified creating a unified Logistics Response Assessment Template as a top priority. They would like to gather current examples of Logistics Needs Assessment templates for emergency situations, so they can be reviewed by practitioners and a standardised template proposed.

I am currently compiling a booklet (funded by Oxfam and IFRC) on the use and procurement of plastic sheeting in humanitarian relief. (www.plastic-sheeting.org for more information)

I would be especially grateful for:

www.humanitariantimber.org

A project to produce and disseminate a field handbook that brings together best practice in the procurement, logistics and use of timber in humanitarian emergencies is underway.

Logistics managers everywhere marvel (and quite possibly shiver) at the inventiveness of these guys:

http://aistigave.hit.bg/Logistics/

My favourite is the man carrying a car chassis in the basket of his bike:

Hello to all members my name is Tony and I am a new member and very new to aid work.
This years sees a great increase in to the need for helicopters during disaster and aid relief operations. The helicopter can prove to be excellent tool during these operations, albeit an expensive one.

I look like to get a better understanding of Customs processes and procedures. NGOs often lose a lot of time and money by having items stuck in customs for weeks or months. Does any one know of a training course that offers an NGO perspective on Customs matters?

We've recently received two questions from people interested in using their pilot and aeronautical engineering skills in the humanitarian sector.

I am a pilot qualified to fly a cesnna 172. I am looking to find out if there is any organisation that i can volunteer my services for a couple of weeks at a time. I am willing to go anywhere in the world where relief efforts are required. If need be I can raise the funds to pay for the fuel or even the hire of the aircraft. If anybody knows of any organisation that would be needing such a service, your input would be greatly appreciated

Apparently, Singapore is the easist place in the world to do business, and DR Congo the hardest. And did you know that to obtain a business registration number in Yemen, on average it'll cost you 2,565% of the GNI per capita!

This page is meant to provide links to resources that can help with office management for aid, relief and development workers.

On this page:

• Logistics Resources Bank of logistics forms and checklists
• Procurement and Supply
• Vehicle Management
• Warehousing
  

Topics included:

• Network update
• Bird flu
• Unhcr & accountability
• Development myths
• Cross-cultural awareness
• Packaging of aid 

Network Update

Welcome back to the Exchange

Aid Workers Exchange is a regular knowledge-sharing bulletin for field staff in relief and development. For the moment, Aid Workers Exchange will be in a "Q&A" format. We start this week with five new questions, and will summarise responses in future editions. You can get involved in the discussion on our Forum, or by emailing exchange@aidworkers.net.

Topics included:

• Community-based health insurance scheme
• Mainstreaming sexual-abuse safeguards into humanitarian programming
• Sustainability of community-based infrastructure projects
• Using roundabout pumps
• Civil society development tools
• Remotely monitoring contractors in IDP camps

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.

Topics included:

• Using roundabout pumps
• Civil society development tools
• Remotely monitoring contractors in IDP camps
• How to conduct sustainable livelihood surveys?
• Microcredit loan pool accounting
• Codan transmission after an earthquake

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.

Keeping track of fuel can be a major headache. All too often, fuel 'leaks out' through mismanagement, inefficient use or theft. With careful management by the logistician, administrator or vehicle manager and of course the drivers, these problems can be avoided.

Logistics Sample Forms, Checklists and Job Descriptions

Click on any of the following to go to a page containing a preview of the document contents and a download link. All files are compressed using the free version of WinZip so you can download them quicker.

If you find a particular document useful, or have suggestions about how it could be improved, please leave a comment on its download page.

Bulk Fuel Control Sheet

Checklist for Vehicle Rental Agreement

Daily / Weekly Vehicle Checklist

Daily Rent Vehicle Log

Daily Vehicle Inspection Report

Driver Rules and Regulations

Driving Test Observation List

Driving Test Sheet

Fuel & Oil Daily Issue Sheet

Fuel Supply Contract

Land Rover Spares Kit

Maintenance Services Contract

Monthly Performance and Costs

Motorcycle Specification Checklist

Motorcycle Tools & Materials Inventory

Preventative Maintenance Checklist for 4WD Vehicles

Second Hand Vehicle Checklist

Service Schedule for Toyota Corolla

Service Schedule for Toyota HZJ75, 78 and 79 Land Cruisers

Service Schedule for Toyota Landcruiser

Spare Parts List for Yamaha AG-100

Spare Parts List for Yamaha AG-200

Stock Form for Motorcycle Spare Parts

Stock Management System for Vehicle Spares

Tools and Equipment Checklist

Vehicle File Index Card

Vehicle Fuel Consumption Log

Vehicle Log Sheet

Vehicle Log Sheet [2]

Vehicle Maintenance / Repair Form

Vehicle Rental Agreement

Vehicle Requisition Form

Vehicle Service / Repair Work Order

Vehicle Service Noticeboard

Vehicle Specification Checklist

Vehicle Tools & Materials Inventory

Topics included:

• How to build synergies amongst projects?
• Starting a children's educational project
• Training in fundraising
• Monitoring capacity building
• Software for logistics
• Irrigation in mountainous areas

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.

Topics included:

• Monitoring capacity building
• Software for logistics
• Irrigation in mountainous areas
• Low-cost ambulances
• HIV workplace initiatives
• Emergency preparedness and response strategies
• Preventing a vehicle roll-over

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.

Topics included:

• Online grant/donor databases
• Micro enterprise development in insecure camps
• Managing from a distance
• Finding conflict resolution training
• Labeling humanitarian goods
• Stakeholders preferring short-term financial gains
• Monitoring and evaluating advocacy programmes

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.