Who is preparing the next generation of immunization supply chain professionals?

Gavi has been one of the first international bodies to articulate the complex interrelationships that need to be addressed if we are to move towards highly performing, next-generation supply chains, by focusing its immunization strategy on improvements that can be made through leadership, continuous improvement, data, better cold chain equipment, and system design [4]. Effective supply chain management with strong leadership is critical for any system change and must be placed within the context of a comprehensive systematic approach to human resources (HR) by focusing on the five building blocks for human resources development; engaging with stakeholders, optimizing policies and plans, identifying workforce development and performance management initiatives, and supporting processes for professionalization [6,7]. Aim This commentary presents a number of the current projects and initiatives seeking to develop the next generation of health supply chain professionals and calls for increased engagement with country governments to further support systematic approaches to HR to develop the professionals needed to sustain the next generation of immunization and health supply chains. International aid agencies, donors, and NGOs are working together to promote professionalization of supply chain management, with this community launching a number of initiatives in recent years, ranging from Project Optimize (2007), a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and PATH on optimizing immunization supply chains to meet the demands of a large portfolio of vaccines), to the People that Deliver Initiative (2011), a global partnership seeking to provide a coordinated, multi-organizational approach to addressing human resource issues in health supply...