Supply Annual Report 2005

Highlights

In 2005, UNICEF procured over $1.1 billion worth of supplies, of which $846 million was offshore2 procurement (with an additional $46 million worth of freight for offshore procurement). This represents a 38 per cent increase over 2004. The notable increase in 2005 is attributable to higher procurement volumes for a range of commodities including water and sanitation (up by 69 per cent), pharmaceuticals (increasing by 43 per cent) and bednets (up by 190 per cent). The exceptional emergencies UNICEF responded to also had an impact on its procurement. In addition, the Division handled over $25 million worth of in-kind assistance.

UNICEF continued to procure vaccines for 40 per cent of children in developing countries, antiretroviral medicines for 42 countries, and remained the largest buyer of mosquito nets in the world, as well as the largest buyer of Oral Rehydration Salts for developing countries. In 2005, Supply Division sent out educational supplies to help nine million children go back to school.

Nine out of 20 of UNICEF’s top supplier countries were countries where UNICEF supports programmes for children. In fact, nearly half of UNICEF’s global procurement is done in developing countries.