Message from the President: AISCR 2026 Strategic Focus

Message from the President: AISCR 2026 Strategic Focus

Dear Colleagues and Partners,

As we move through 2026, I am pleased to share the strong progress being made in the institutional development of the Advanced Institute for Supply Chain Research (AISCR). In a relatively short period, AISCR has transitioned from foundation to active implementation, advancing supply chain research, education, and practice across Africa and beyond.

Supply chains remain central to economic stability, public service delivery, and sustainable development. Yet across many regions, particularly in Africa, gaps persist in institutional capacity, skills, governance, and evidence-based decision-making. AISCR continues to address these challenges through rigorous research, workforce development, and strategic partnerships.

Since the beginning of the year, we have made significant strides. Our office in Yaoundé, Cameroon is now operational, with AISCR staff actively supporting research, training, and partnership development. Our Board of Directors is fully engaged, and our functional and regional Vice Presidents are actively driving initiatives aligned with our strategic priorities. We have signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding, with several more in progress to expand collaboration across academia, government, and industry.

We have launched a series of initiatives, including our webinar programme, research outputs, executive insights, and the AISCR-Desiderio Pan-African Insight Bulletin. We are also rolling out the Supply Chain Executive Masterclass Series and targeted bootcamps to strengthen professional and leadership capacity. In the coming months, we will convene our AISCR Leadership Forum and prepare for a continental summit.

AISCR serves as a platform that connects academia, industry, and government to address critical supply chain challenges and drive innovation, resilience, and measurable impact globally. We invite supply chain management professionals, researchers, policymakers, and partners to join us in this effort as we advance supply chain transformation across Africa and beyond.

Warm regards,
Prof. Marcus Ambe
President & CEO, AISCR