Some chaos is an integral partof all disasters

The mismanagement

of the humanitarian assistance

often leads to a

‘secondary disaster’

The WHO/PAHO standardized methodology and tool

to manage large amounts of humanitarian supplies

SUMA

• Promoted and implemented by WHO/PAHO• Identifies, sorts, and classifies incoming humanitarian aid• Prioritizes supplies based on the needs of the affected

population• Trains volunteers in the Americas • Available in other region (Gambia, Manila, Angola,

Pakistan, Indonesia, etc.)• Operates with IT available in low-income countries• All humanitarian supplies• Tool for transparency• Endorsed by OCHA and forms part of OCHA/UNDAC

training

UNJLC - UN Joint Logistics Centre

• Promoted and implemented by WFP• Reports to OCHA• Provides a quick snapshot and bold figures of

specific humanitarian supplies (less then 30 items)

• Compiles data from different agencies• Posted to the WEB• WHO/SUMA staff collaborating with UNJLC

There is still a lack of coordination at national and/or international level

among all interested humanitarian partners.

Agreement between UN agencies

To develop an integrated system to improve coordination

In addition, FUNDESUMA and UNJLC have contributed in the design and development of the software and technical documentation.

LSS Main Objectives

• To consolidate and share information on a limited number of key commodities between all actors to facilitate inter-institutional coordination.

• To complement agency-specific commodity tracking systems • To register incoming supplies in an affected country (including unsolicited

supplies)• To provide a tool for National Emergency Authorities (all disasters), NGO, UN

Agencies, etc.• To be useful in:

• Major emergencies (OCHA)• Small scale emergencies• Non-emergency situation

• To minimize duplication and improve the response to actual needs of affected populations

• To strength national capacity in logistic management

The system IS NOT replacing any other system that Agencies, NGOs or other actors may have to manage their own supplies

CTS (Commodities Tracking System)

Exchange of Information

LS

S

LS

S

LS

S

Administrative Arrangementsfor LSS Development

• PAHO administered software development aspects following UN rules

• Advisory committee with one representative of each contributing agency in charge of monitoring design and development (WHO, PAHO, WFP, OCHA, UNICEF and UNHCR)

Chronology of the LSS Project

2001-2002 Six UN agencies and main NGOs agreed on main principles of humanitarian supply management

Mid 2002 Approval of RFPs (Terms of Reference)

Jan 2003 Contract signed with vendor following UN rules

July 2003 Design Document approved

Sep-2004 Beta software finished – Demo to UN working group

End 2004 Testing of beta version (November-December 2004)

Mid 2005 Reception of Version 1.0 (Windows and Web applications)

Mid 2005 Testing and training courses with LEMA users

Where are we now?

• Software (Windows and Web Version)

– Finalized and tested• English / Spanish

• Training Material– Practices/Technical

Documentation ready• English / Spanish

• WEB Site– Domain ->

www.lssweb.net• English / Spanish

• Final Distribution CD

Formal Training sessions

Maldives (December 2005)• WHO, UNICEF, IFRC, Government

(Ministry of Health, Custom, Treasure, Atoll Hospital and Health centers)

Jamaica (February 2006)• Training of Trainers• 13 English Speaking Countries.

Panama (March 2006)• Training of Trainers• 8 Spanish Speaking Countries of Central America.

El Salvador/Costa Rica/St Kitts and Navis(March/April 2006)• World Vision / Red Cross

Colombia/Peru/Argentina/MexicoBahamas/Turks and Caicos(May/June 2006)

About LSS Software

Modern and Adaptable

• Modern intuitive user interface• Supports standalone, networked and enterprise

configurations• Based on the highly adaptable Microsoft SQL

Server database technology• Two components: Windows and web module• Multi-user support on the Windows and the web

module

LSS Windows Module Functions

• Entries• Deliveries• Pipeline• Request• Report on selected items (Stock Basket)• Interchange information between LSS Sites• Import information from CTS (UN, NGO’s)

LSS Web Module

• Same functions as Windows application, in a rich web interface

• No deployment or setup process for end users• Allows global access and data sharing• Supports rapid deployment and delivery of services around

the world

Leading Edge Architecture

• Technical architecture separates the presentation layer from the application’s logic and data resources

• Can be installed using a royalty-free MSDE database or Microsoft SQL Server 2000

• Developed with Microsoft Visual Basic .Net• Developed with the object-oriented paradigm

Non SQL Server license required to keep a free distribution

• MSDE : Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine, royalty-free version of the SQL Server.

– Windows application stand alone– Windows application basic networked environments

Configurable Functionality

LSS’ functionality is configurable to allow users to install a basic data entry model or complete inventory system

Custom Report

Custom Query allows easier data access for reporting

Advance Graphing

Advance custom graphing capabilities

Multiple Language Support

• Designed from the ground up to support multiple languages (At this time in English and Spanish)

• Users can customize the menus, labels and captions of the LSS application to their local language conventions using the included Resource Editor Tool

• Non-Roman alphabet support

Interchange information betweenLSS Sites

• Allows users to share data among LSS sites

Incorporate information from Commodity tracking systems

• Supports import from Non-LSS applications, using simplified CSV file format

• Supports flexible item definitions for inter-agency integration and reporting

Hurricane STAN LSS Software

• Salvador:– Comalapa Airport (Points

of Entry)– COEN (National

Emergency Committee) Warehouses)

– MoH (Ministry of Health)

Field testing during an emergency

• Guatemala:– CONRED (National

Emergency Committee)• Receiving all international

aid (Planes)• Air distribution (Planes /

Helicopters)– SOSEP (Ministry of Social

Works) • Land Distribution

– MoH (Ministry of Health)

Field testing during an emergency

Hurricane STAN LSS Software

Pakistan Earthquake

• Islamabad– Joint WHO/Ministry of

Health – Emergency Operation Centre

• North Pakistan – Muzaffarabat WHO &

Ministry of Health– Masehra WHO &

Ministry of Health– Balakot WHO

Next steps

Logistic Support System

• Definition of policies for the management of supplies at the point of entry when the disaster strikes at a National Level

• Promote the system as a tool for non-emergency situations for smaller agencies and national institutions (that can not afford the cost/HR required)

• Improve the coordination with other partners of the UN family• Promote the system as a tool for agencies for complementing

their CTS at a local level.

Acknowledgments

The Logistics Support System (LSS) has been possible thanks to the active participation of the following agencies:  WHO, PAHO, UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, and UNHCR.  This recognition extends to the countries that have contributed their logistical experience in disaster management and the following organizations who participated with their

time and personnel in the technical meetings and workshops on the logistical management of humanitarian supplies:  CARE, World Economic Forum, MSF,

OXFAM UK, FICR, HAP, AHA, Fritz Institute, All Russian Disaster Medicine Centers, World Bank, VOICE, Interaction, CICR, BIOFORCE, USD Defense Logistic Agency,

Zacshta Center.  Additionally, FUNDESUMA and UNJLC have contributed to the design and development of the software and technical documentation. The following

development agencies have contributed with financial support: the Swedish international development cooperation agency (SIDA), the United Kingdom’s

Department for International Development (DFID), the Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development

(OFDA/ISAID), the Division of Humanitarian Assistance, Peace and Security of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the European Commission’s

Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dutch Government.