Aid Agencies Aim To Slash Transport Costs By A Quarter

TERRADAILY

"We could save 200 million dollars in transport and use that 200 million in other parts of our programmes."

Geneva (AFP) Sep 23, 2005
A group of more than 40 aid agencies has come together to try to slash their transport costs, which reach a combined 800 million dollars a year, an official said Thursday.

Much of the money wasted through shoddy vehicle maintenance, negligence and road accidents, bureaucratic headaches, and the ad hoc policies of a kaleidoscope of aid groups could be redirected to people who need help on the ground, said Rob McConnell, coordinator of the Fleet Forum.

"I think realistically we could save 25 percent," said McConnell, who is on loan to the network from the International Red Cross.

"We're looking at increased effectiveness and efficiency," he told reporters.

"We could save 200 million dollars in transport and use that 200 million in other parts of our programmes."

Besides the Red Cross, the Fleet Forum's membership includes UN organisations such as the World Food Programme, charities and Western government aid agencies.

Their combined aid operations use around 60,000 vehicles, representing their second largest budget slice after staff costs, McConnell noted.

Record fuel prices have focused their minds.

"You budget for the year, and if your biggest transport operating cost increases dramatically then it really puts the squeeze on other areas of the budget," said McConnell.

The Fleet Forum also aims to give individual aid agencies more muscle when dealing with governments.

McConnell cited the case of British aid organisation Oxfam, which faced massive customs duties when it shipped 25 Indian-made four-wheel drive vehicles to Sri Lanka after the Asian tsunami.

Oxfam ended up paying one million dollars, after failing to win exemption from the Sri Lanka's 324 percent import duty on such vehicles.

In contrast, by pooling efforts in Sudan, aid groups were able to import 70 four-wheel drive vehicles tax-free after negotiations with the government.

The forum also plans to raise aid workers' awareness of the need for road safety, which often gets missed out in discussions on security in danger zones.

"Much is made of the risks facing humanitarian workers. In actual fact, the greatest risk they face in their daily work is crashes," said McConnell.

In addition, it hopes to boost use of environmentally-friendly vehicles, he said.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

TERRADAILY

Lions Kill 20 People In Southern Ethiopia: Report

Addis Ababa (AFP) Sep 21, 2005
Lions have mauled to death 20 people and 750 head of livestock in southern region of Ethiopia, local administrators said on Tuesday.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.