Multi-donor trust fund for sustainable logistics (MDTF-SL) : position note on green logistics (supply chains)

Logistics – the services, knowledge, and infrastructure that allow for the free movement of goods and people – is now recognized as a key driver of competitiveness and economic development. Efficient logistics systems are a precondition for regions, countries, cities, and businesses to participate in the global economy, boost growth, and improve livelihoods. Policy making has turned its attention to sustainable growth paths, valuing scarce resources, minimizing environmental impacts, and allowing economies to prosper across generations. In this new integrated vision of development, sustainable logistics is a key nexus. To improve sustainable logistics practices in the developing world, private sector technologies and innovations, as well as governmental policies and academic knowledge, need to be brought together. The government of the Netherlands and the World Bank have taken a first step in this direction and established the first Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Sustainable Logistics (MDTF-SL) in September 2013.