World Food Programme: Lesotho - Building Sustainable Operations

The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is a landlocked country of approximately 2 million people. Highly dependent on South Africa's economy and trade, in a good year Lesotho is only able to produce 35% of its cereal needs. Approximately 30% of the population is affected by HIV/AIDS. The United Nations World Food Programme has been a leading source of support to Lesotho, distributing tons of food aid throughout the country, a task made difficult by the mountainous terrain, poor visibility and control of the supply chain, and poorly trained staff.

The case serves to highlight the difficulties in dealing with the crisis (HIV, economic downturn, and famine) in Southern Africa, particularly the need for capacity building among locals. The case focuses on the need to train local staff in supply chain management vs. logistics in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the international aid devoted to Lesotho.