Why Emergency Preparedness?
Emergency preparedness is crucial for saving lives and reducing costs. Investing just one dollar in preparedness can save seven dollars in response costs. Studies indicate that the logistics costs of buying and delivering relief supplies account for about 73% of the total emergency response costs. Efficient preparedness can help avoid expensive airlifts and other high-cost transport methods, ensuring that more funds are available to assist those in need and making the response more sustainable.
Emergency Preparedness Saves Lives, Time and Costs
Emergency preparedness is a proven, cost-effective investment that saves lives. Evidence shows that for every USD 1 invested in preparedness, up to USD 7 can be saved during emergency response. Logistics costs – particularly the procurement and transport of relief items – can represent up to 73% of total humanitarian response costs. When systems are not prepared, urgent responses rely more heavily on costly airlifts and ad-hoc solutions, reducing the overall efficiency and sustainability of the response. Preparedness enables faster, more efficient delivery of assistance by ensuring emergency supply chains are ready before a crisis strikes, allowing resources to reach affected populations when and where they are needed most.
National and Regional Leadership at the Centre of Preparedness
The Global Logistics Cluster’s Emergency Preparedness places national and regional actors in the driving seat. National responders are always the first responders in emergencies, and strengthening their leadership ensures that emergency supply chain coordination is led by those who best understand the local context and operational realities. By establishing nationally led coordination systems, the Logistics Cluster integrates emergency logistics preparedness within government frameworks and response strategies, decreasing dependence on international surge resources and promoting lasting sustainability.
A Flagship Programme Supporting Countries and Regions at Risk
Since 2017, the Logistics Cluster Emergency Preparedness Programme has been a flagship initiative supporting national and regional organizations and governments across high-risk regions – from the Pacific to Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. Implemented in collaboration with national authorities in 26 countries, the programme is tailored to each country’s risk profile, capacities, and priorities. Dedicated regional teams positioned in strategic, locations ensure preparedness support is close to the countries and communities most at risk, enabling sustained engagement and context-specific support.
Global Logistics Cluster Country Candidates
Institutional Capacity Strengthening for Sustainable Impact
Preparedness efforts are guided by the Institutional Capacity Strengthening (ICS) framework, which supports national organizations to design, own, and sustain emergency supply chain coordination structures beyond the life of a single project. Rather than creating parallel systems, the ICS approach builds on existing institutions to ensure continuity, ownership, and long-term impact. A core component of this approach is the establishment and strengthening of National and Regional Logistics Working Groups, which form the backbone of a country’s logistics preparedness ecosystem.
A Collaborative and Comprehensive Network Approach
Effective preparedness requires collective action. The Logistics Cluster Emergency Preparedness Network brings together national and regional authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, academia, and other preparedness actors to ensure a comprehensive, coordinated approach to emergency supply chain readiness. By aligning logistics preparedness with broader disaster preparedness and response efforts, the network approach shares best practices, helps countries reduce duplication, close critical gaps, and strengthen overall response capacity.