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

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* 1. Please provide your company’s contact details:

 Email address:

 Telephone number:

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* 2. Which of the domains of science below best describe your work? (Select all that apply)

Engineering

Health

Agriculture & Food

Water

Forensics

Mining

ICT

Environment

Other (please list)

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* 3. Which region(s) do you serve? (Select all that apply)

East Africa

West Africa

Central Africa

North Africa

Southern Africa

Europe

North America

Asia

Latin America

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What type of institution do you mainly supply to? (Select all that apply)

Public University

Private University

Research Institute

Private Companies

Non-Governmental Organizations

Other (please specify)

Section 2: Pricing and Supplier Timelines

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* 5. In your opinion, what drives higher market pricing of scientific equipment, reagents, and materials in Africa compared to developed countries?

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* 6. What are the main challenges with payment processes for scientific materials in Africa?

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* 7. How long does an average order take to deliver to a research institution in Africa?

Less than 1 week

1-2 weeks

2-4 weeks

More than a month

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* 8. What are the main causes of delays in delivering scientific equipment, reagents, and materials to Africa?

Section 3: Governance and Policy

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* 9. What is the average delay period during customs clearance for scientific materials in Africa?

Less than 1 week

1-2 weeks

2-4 weeks

More than a month

More than 6 months

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* 10. How can we achieve faster customs clearance for scientific materials in Africa?

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* 11. Are you aware of any regulations that differentiate scientific materials from other types of consignments?

Yes

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* 12. If yes, please list the relevant regulations and indicate if they benefit or hinder operations:

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* 13. Would harmonizing local regulations with favorable international standards improve supply capabilities?

Yes

Section 4: Risk Management and Capacity Building

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* 14. Does your company have contingency plans for supply chain disruptions?

If Yes, (Kindly let us know what strategies are in place?)

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* 15. How does your organization implement anti-corruption measures or integrity policies?

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* 16. Does your company have any interest in capacity-building programs focused on scientific procurement?

If Yes, (Kindly let us know what type of training would be most valuable?)

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* 17. Would certification programs for procurement professionals improve supplier relationships?

Yes

Section 5: Partnerships and Collaborations

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* 18. What types of partnerships or collaborations would you be interested in building to improve supply chain efficiencies in Africa for researchers?

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* 19. How do you perceive the role of Public-Private Partnerships in enhancing procurement processes?

Critical

Important

Limited role

Not needed

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* 20. Is your company a member of any manufacturers or suppliers’ networks in Africa?

Yes (please state which one)

Section 6: Technology and Infrastructure Development

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* 21. Is your company familiar with end-to-end electronic procurement systems for scientific materials?

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not familiar

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* 22. Does your company use an end-to-end electronic procurement system for scientific materials?

Yes

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* 23. If yes, how beneficial is it?

No benefit

Mildly beneficial

Significantly beneficial

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* 24. Does your company have centralized warehousing facilities?

Yes

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* 25. If yes, in which regions in Africa? (Select all that apply)

East Africa

West Africa

Central Africa

North Africa

Southern Africa

Other (please specify)

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* 26. Does your company have certification for specialized infrastructure, such as cold chain logistics?

Yes

If No, (Kindly let us know whether certification would help you secure more contracts?)

Section 7: Operational Efficiency and Financial Management

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* 27. Would training on effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for procurement improve operational efficiency?

Yes

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* 28. Does your company currently implement any demand forecasting methods for research projects?

If Yes (Kindly let us know what data would improve your demand forecasting process?)

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* 29. Does your company use any performance indicators to assess the delivery of goods?

Yes

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* 30. Have you experienced price fluctuations due to regional inflation?

If Yes (What strategies do you employ to manage cost changes?)

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