Engine of Hope: Powering Humanitarian Work Through Digital Logistics
Delivering life-saving aid across Ethiopia has never been simple. Every day, World Vision Ethiopia teams navigate washed-out roads, rugged terrain, security checkpoints, and chronic fuel shortages to reach the most vulnerable children and families.
For years, those external challenges were compounded by internal strain. Manual logistics processes slowed us down. Service requests disappeared into paperwork. Disconnected data left teams unsure of vehicle locations or real inventory levels.
Warehouses filled with obsolete stock, fuel waste increased, and low vehicle utilisation drove up costs. Together, these pressures threatened the speed and reliability our mission depends on.
We knew something had to change. To keep our promise to children across Ethiopia, the logistical heart of our operation needed a fundamental transformation.
Building a Unified, Digital Supply Chain
In response, our Supply Chain and Logistics Division, supported by teams across the organisation, embarked on a bold digital transformation of our supply chain. This was not a single project or system upgrade. It was a collective shift in how we work, replacing fragmented processes with a unified, resilient digital backbone.
The transformation focused on two core areas: fleet management and warehouse operations.
Digital Fleet Management: Coordinated, Safe, and Efficient
We transitioned our entire fleet of 496 vehicles and motorbikes from paper-based logs to an integrated, in-house digital system.
What changed
- Online vehicle booking system: Manual request forms were replaced with a digital platform, reducing administrative workload for programme staff and fleet controllers by 60%.
- GPS and vehicle tracking: Real-time visibility across all hubs improved route planning, safety monitoring, and operational decision-making.
- Telebirr fuel payments: Digital fueling reduced cash-handling risks by over 90% and eliminated unnecessary travel just to refuel.
What this delivered
- 94% fleet availability, enabling 4.55 million kilometres of programme reach
- Operating costs reduced to USD 0.28 per kilometre, with over USD 260,000 recovered
- A strong safety record of one accident per 100,000 kilometres, reflecting better oversight and care for our teams
Smart Warehouse Management: Visibility and Accountability
At the same time, we transformed our warehouses from isolated stockrooms into connected hubs of transparency.
Handwritten ledgers were replaced by an in-house Warehouse Management System (WMS), creating a single, trusted source of truth across all locations.
What changed
- Real-time inventory visibility: Programme managers and field teams can now view stock levels from receipt to final dispatch, across all hubs.
- End-to-end traceability: Every item can be tracked throughout its lifecycle, strengthening accountability and donor confidence.
What this delivered
- Management of over USD 10 million in total stock movement
- USD 352,000 recovered from obsolete items, freeing space and converting waste into value
- Fewer audit gaps and stronger donor reporting, setting a rare benchmark in the region
The Impact Behind the Systems
Behind every system improvement is a human outcome. Nutritional supplies arrive on time for malnourished children. Water pumps reach communities when they are most needed. Medical kits restock remote clinics without delay.
This is more than a logistics success story. It is a story of teams choosing discipline, collaboration, and innovation in the service of children.
By rebuilding our supply chain through digital transformation, we have created an invisible engine that moves hope faster, farther, and more reliably across Ethiopia.
When logistics work seamlessly, children benefit. And together, we are changing lives.
By Meron Belay, Internal Communication & Corporate Storytelling Specialist, World Vision Ethiopia