Our MakerNet journey these past several weeks has focused on key areas for Field Ready and the consortium as well as for others attempting to supplement the aid supply chain with appropriate, affordable, accessible and available supplies that are locally made. We shared an overview on the design sharing and aid sourcing focus points. We shared a mapping survey that begins to bring transparency to local manufacturing capacities in previously non-digitally connected geographies

*This post originally appeared in Makernet.global 11/15/17. In our quest to catalyse more local manufacturing around the world, one of the topics we are passionate about is the need for international development and aid agencies to source more of their procurement from local manufacturers. Some of the key benefits of this are: Cheaper No shipping or customs: Local production shortens supply chains; shorter domestic supply chains reduce transport costs and eliminate internatio

We believe we can only go far together! Help test humanitarian items...

The vast majority of the world’s small-scale manufacturers do not have any presence on the internet. They get their business from passing trade and by referral, and they may advertise locally or attend trade fairs or similar. Those that do have web sites often gear them towards selling the standard products that they make, not at explaining what manufacturing capabilities they have that could also make different products. If we want to move towards a world where more products