Project Last Mile

Project Last Mile (PLM) is an innovative public-private partnership launched in 2010 between The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID),President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), The Global Fund and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to draw private sector lessons from across the Coca-Cola value chain to benefit health systems strengthening in Africa.

Given the need for ultra-cold chain (UCC) for an initial leading COVID-19 vaccine candidate, PLM was asked to conduct an analysis on the availability of liquid CO2 (LCO2) in the Coca-Cola value chain in 47countries in Africa to assist in meeting potential dry ice needs to support ultra-cold chain vaccine distribution. This was then expanded to include COVAX countries in Latin America and the Pacific Islands.

PLM completed a rapid assessment examining the feasibility of procuring LCO2 in 70 countries from Coca-Cola partners and suppliers across the three regions. This final report represents the culmination of this assessment. The aspiration is that this assessment will contribute significant insights to determining the operational feasibility of maintaining ultra-cold temperatures to distribute a new COVID-19 vaccine. It can also help inform where the COVID-19 vaccine may not be feasible or will require another CO2procurement approach.