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Survey on Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in Scientific Procurement and Logistics in Africa.

This survey aims to understand the key challenges manufacturers and suppliers face in procurement, logistics, and supply chains for scientific research in Africa. It seeks input from manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment, reagents, and supplies. All responses will be kept confidential and used solely for research and policy development purposes.
This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Section 1: Company Information
1.Please provide your company’s contact details:(Required.)
2.Which of the domains of science below best describe your work? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
3.Which region(s) do you serve? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
4.What type of institution do you mainly supply to? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
Section 2: Pricing and Supplier Timelines
5.In your opinion, what drives higher market pricing of scientific equipment, reagents, and materials in Africa compared to developed countries?
(Required.)
6.What are the main challenges with payment processes for scientific materials in Africa?(Required.)
7.How long does an average order take to deliver to a research institution in Africa?(Required.)
8.What are the main causes of delays in delivering scientific equipment, reagents, and materials to Africa?
Section 3: Governance and Policy
9.What is the average delay period during customs clearance for scientific materials in Africa?
(Required.)
10.How can we achieve faster customs clearance for scientific materials in Africa?
11.Are you aware of any regulations that differentiate scientific materials from other types of consignments?
12.If yes, please list the relevant regulations and indicate if they benefit or hinder operations:
13.Would harmonizing local regulations with favorable international standards improve supply capabilities?
Section 4: Risk Management and Capacity Building
14.Does your company have contingency plans for supply chain disruptions?(Required.)
15.How does your organization implement anti-corruption measures or integrity policies?
16.Does your company have any interest in capacity-building programs focused on scientific procurement?
17.Would certification programs for procurement professionals improve supplier relationships?
Section 5: Partnerships and Collaborations
18.What types of partnerships or collaborations would you be interested in building to improve supply chain efficiencies in Africa for researchers?
19.How do you perceive the role of Public-Private Partnerships in enhancing procurement processes?
20.Is your company a member of any manufacturers or suppliers’ networks in Africa?(Required.)
Section 6: Technology and Infrastructure Development
21.Is your company familiar with end-to-end electronic procurement systems for scientific materials?
(Required.)
22.Does your company use an end-to-end electronic procurement system for scientific materials?(Required.)
23.If yes, how beneficial is it?
24.Does your company have centralized warehousing facilities?(Required.)
25.If yes, in which regions in Africa? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
26.Does your company have certification for specialized infrastructure, such as cold chain logistics?(Required.)
Section 7: Operational Efficiency and Financial Management
27.Would training on effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for procurement improve operational efficiency?(Required.)
28.Does your company currently implement any demand forecasting methods for research projects?(Required.)
29.Does your company use any performance indicators to assess the delivery of goods?
30.Have you experienced price fluctuations due to regional inflation?(Required.)
Conclusion:
Thank you for participating in this survey. Your insights will contribute valuable information to understanding challenges and opportunities in scientific procurement and logistics across Africa.
For more information or queries reach out to gcafrica@scienceforafrica.foundation