Africa's logistics and supply chain sector is expanding rapidly, yet the continent continues to face persistent structural inefficiencies that undermine this growth. The broader African logistics industry is currently valued at an estimated USD 160 B , driven by rising trade volumes, rapid urbanisation, growing e-commerce activity, and significant infrastructure investments. Regional markets reflect similar momentum: West Africa's logistics industry reached USD 45.7 B in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 71.5 B by 2033 South Africa's market stands at USD 64.09 B in 2025 and is expected to double to USD 113.70 B by 2035 nearly and East Africa's market is set to expand from USD 23.9 B in 2024 to USD 36.8 B by 2033. Weak supply chain visibility, fragmented market information, and slow procurement processes often mean that medicines, vaccines, and essential supplies fail to reach the people who need them on time. Despite the availability of capable logistics providers in many countries, health programmes, NGOs, and governments frequently struggle to identify and engage the right partners. This gap creates delays, increases transport costs, and limits the continent's ability to respond quickly to emergencies.
In recent years, outbreaks, floods, and supply disruptions have exposed the fragility of existing systems. The challenge is not simply the absence of infrastructure but the absence of structured, transparent ways to find logistics partners and match them with operational needs. In this context, the emergence of the Logistics Marketplace -a platform funded by the Global Fund and in partnership with the Gates Foundation-signals an attempt to rethink how the continent connects logistics demand and supply. Scott Dubin , Supply Chain Private Sector Engagement Advisor at the Global Fund and the creator of the platform, outlines why the tool was needed and what it hopes to change.
The Persistent Visibility Crisis in African LogisticsFor years, organisations working in health and humanitarian supply chains have faced the same obstacle: logistics capacity exists, but no one has a clear way to find it. Dubin has seen this pattern repeat across multiple countries and programmes. Governments and NGOs often rely on personal networks, outdated spreadsheets, or expensive consultants simply to answer basic questions about who operates in a region or whether they have the right equipment and experience.
