Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices and Performance of United Nations Agencies in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This paper presents results from a study on influence of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices on performance of UN Agencies in Nairobi, Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to establish the SSCP adopted by UN agencies in Kenya and the extent to which these practices have been adopted; to determine the relationship between SSCP adopted by UN agencies and their performance; and to establish challenges faced by UN agencies in implementing SSCP. The research adapted a correlation crosssectional research design in collecting data from respondents. The study involved a census of the UN Agencies in Nairobi. The primary tool for collecting data was questionnaires administered by the researchers to allow for further probing on issues that not unclear to the respondents. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, correlation analysis and factor analysis with the aid of SPSS 20.0. Findings from the study revealed that stakeholder engagement, having a diverse supplier network, ensuring suppliers have a sustainable policy, good working conditions for employees, employee health and safety as well as ethical sourcing, production and distribution were highly adopted. The findings also showed that through adoption of SSC practices, UN agencies were able to get new market opportunities, increased their operational as well as production efficiencies, reduced their costs and improved the organizations’ corporate image. Funding limitation and delays, procurement delays, strains in control, and staff resistance to adopting change were shown to be some of the challenges faced by UN Agencies. It is suggested that training of employees, community training and having a sustainable policy would help in curbing the challenges. It is evident from the correlation analysis that adopting SSC practices had an effect on performance of these organizations.