National and sub-national logistics working groups (S)NLWGs are mechanisms for coordinating in-country immunization logistics and supply chain activities, as well as supply chain investments of government agencies and development partners. NLWGs have been demonstrably instrumental in improving the performance of supply chain management at the national and sub-national levels, adapting appropriate global and regional standards and guides to country contexts. As “governance, leadership and accountability groups”, while NLWGs may take different forms and names, all these groups aim to ensure that in-country supply chain systems are effectively designed, operated and monitored; and that these systems contribute to overall programme goals and objectives.
Governments and in-country stakeholders aim to coordinate strategic priorities, optimize in-country processes and build sustainable practices across public health commodities supply chains and immunization supply chains (iSCs). (S)NLWGs are critical to cross-function interactions and identification of leverage points. As part of a ministry of health’s effort to strengthen immunization
supply chains to achieve timely delivery vaccines to service delivery points, (S)NLWGs serve to ensure vaccine quality, vaccine availability and supply chain efficiency.
(S)NLWG Objectives
National Logistics Working Groups are effective country-driven coordination mechanisms for improving immunization supply chain management, decision making and accountability at the national and subnational levels. These working groups are part of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and EPI’s processes to strengthen immunization supply chain with an overarching objective of achieving continuous improvement in vaccine availability, efficacy and safety, as well as ensuring immunization supply chain efficiency that includes ancillary products. Additionally, NLWGs aim to improve coordination among partners in the implementation of national immunization priorities. These groups provide evidence-based recommendations on the iSC and logistics to governments through the national immunization strategy (NIP) and the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC), immunization groups such as National Immunization Advisory Groups (NITAG), other logistical groups (i.e., pharmacy and drug supply chain), and other departments in the MOH. The activities of NLWGs seek to complement that of the ICC and NITAGs.