The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain-Africa (CARISCA) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised the 2022 Supply Summit on ‘How Africa Matters to the Global Supply Chain’ from 28th to 30th June 2022 at the KNUST Business School.
The Supply Chain Research Summit, which saw supply chain researchers and practitioners in attendance is a centrepiece of CARISCA’s strategy that puts Africa’s supply chain research on the world map. The goal of the event was to strengthen African supply chain capacity by bringing together academic and non-academic researchers, as well as public, private, and civil society organisations together to create an ongoing dialogue to address complex supply chain challenges in Africa.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Charles O. Marfo, in his welcome address stated that the purpose of the summit is to share newly created knowledge on global supply chain inefficiencies and ineffectiveness, practical solutions and communicate the same to stakeholders. He revealed that ‘in a globalised world where efficiency of the delivery of goods and services is paramount, supply chain management remains the pivot around which successful and sustainable businesses revolve and thrive. However, some barriers contribute to the inefficiency of the supply networks in Ghana and Africa in general. These factors end up having a restraining effect, which leads to a reduction in the rate of economic growth and development.’
Professor Marfo lauded the efforts of CARISCA for bringing together over 600 academic and non-academic researchers, public, private, and civil society organisations from over 40 countries to dialogue about complex supply chain challenges in Africa and showcase some of the best supply chain solutions, knowledge, and practices.
In her keynote address, Professor Helena Barnard reflected on her experience as a supply chain professional working for Home Depot, a large retailer in the United States. She highlighted three ways in which supply chains in Africa differ from what she experienced there, and how those differences make supply chain management harder. Referring to how Africa is struggling with poor infrastructure, bad roads, the rail networks which are not well maintained.
To address supply chain challenges in Africa, she called for the need to rethink everything about the supply chain industry and not simply focus on a single part of the supply chain, such as transportation.
The Summit saw participants from Arizona State University, KNUST, University of Cape Coast, Lagos State University, American University in Cairo, Pan-Atlantic University, mPharma, Makerere University, USAID, Chemonics, UN, UNICEF, World Health Organization (Africa Region), World Food Programme, the ministries of health from four different countries, and hospitals.
The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain – Africa (CARISCA) is a partnership between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Arizona State University (ASU) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
CARISCA’s key objective is to support higher education institutions in building the capacity necessary to provide best-in-class degree programmes and training, facilitate research translation and utilisation, and engage stakeholders in best practices and policy changes that strengthen supply chains.