Creating a Career Development Path for Young Supply Chain Professionals: Three Case Studies in Benin, Kenya, and South Africa.

Abstract

Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to have a limited supply of skilled supply chain (SC) management professionals in the public sector. In addition, the SC workforce lacks the competencies demanded by new technologies and markets. Young people may be an untapped resource for the procurement and SC management workforce. We present 3 use cases in which career development paths were created for young SC professionals in Benin, Kenya, and South Africa. In Benin, with advocacy from L'Association des Logisticiens Béninois, the professional body of logisticians, career development opportunities were made through creating specific programs like the Young Logisticians Professionals Program. SAPICS, the professional body for SC management in South Africa, has been providing opportunities for career development by giving students and young professionals access to subject matter experts, conferences, site visits, and various industry-specific training and networking opportunities, as well as general "job readiness" training through coaching and mentorship programs. In Kenya, the Girls on the Move program focuses on introducing SC management as a career path to girls through internships, skills training, and mentorship, all aimed at equipping them for successful work placements. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical importance of SC management and highlighted vulnerabilities that demand greater responsiveness and resilience. In the post-COVID era, it is imperative for the public SC sector to build an agile and skilled workforce capable of addressing immediate needs and supporting long-term pandemic preparedness. The cases presented show how opportunities for training, mentorship, and work experience were made available to young professionals and highlight some of the positive outcomes of these initiatives. The cases also illustrate innovative approaches to developing career pathways for youth in LMICs that aim to expand the pool of skilled professionals who can strengthen public SCs and enhance their capacity to respond to future challenges.