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Cost of Distribution

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Cost of Distribution

The cost of distribution for our proposed three Food Pantries are as follows. These are estimated costs based on other similar programs based out of neighboring countries or Ethiopian food supply organizations that are established in the same category as our proposed organization. The distribution costs include road transport to our facilities, storage costs of the supply, housing for distributors, and electricity. We would most likely require vehicular transport to each of our facilities from where we would also store food till they can be used and distributed to the needy families and people.

One association we primarily focused on was the World Food Programme which supplies aid to many countries including Ethiopia. By viewing the 2011 annual report section for Ethiopian food security and distribution we were able to estimate a cost for distribution. The estimated cost for the food distribution is roughly around $500,000.00. The total cost was calculated by taking information supplied by WFP and their annual report, which consisted of a 3 year program which they signed with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in 2007 and mainly with a breakdown of electricity cost, housing cost, vehicle purchase cost, and facility cost. We were able to also accounted for other costs for distribution such as housing for distributors, gas, transport cost, and electricity. We gathered this information from looking up costs from the 2011 annual report for WFP and real estate and property sales in Ethiopia, along side gas cost and kwh per month and cost for it. Initially we had calculated the cost of having a truck driver to somewhere around $43,000.00 but after locating a housing location for the volunteers and employees in Addis Ababa. We decided that it would be more cost effective to just have those same volunteers drive the six vans where two would go to a different location daily and that would provide transport for the food and the volunteers to and from the facilities. The cost of six Chevy cargo vans that are being sold in Ethiopia with high mileage but in perfect condition otherwise would total at $89340.00 based on the listing price of the single van we multiplied it by 6 to get this total. With the use of a fuel calculator for the vans and with google maps we placed the distance of Gondar and the facility from the warehouse in Addis Ababa at 750km, and it calculated an expense of $177.00 round trip, with six vans it will be $1,062..00. From Addis Ababa to Nefas Meewcha it is 710km including the facility location and it is calculated at $167.00 round trip, totaling at $1,002.00. From Addis Ababa to Maychew it is 690 km and is calculated at $163.00 round trip and totaling at $978.00 for the six vans. If the trips to the facilities were done every week then the total cost of for the year is $158,184.00 for six van. For storage we accounted for the acquisition cost of the storage of the supplies in the the storage cost. The cost of the warehouse is 1.3 million birr which calculates to $74713.00. Based on a facility that we found, and after emailing the agent about the correct cost, in Ethiopia with 3500sq feet for 42,000.00 birr per facility each year as rent and since we would have three totaling 1,260,000.00 birr per year. Totaling at $72413.79 per year in US dollars. So a total cost for storage would be $147,126.79 per year. For housing we based our figure on a listing for an apartment complex that we found and could purchase and rotate volunteers and employees for housing. A brand standard apartment building in Addis Ababa with a 4 unit apartment in each floor with a lounge, guest house office, 40 bed rooms, and 20 bath rooms. Rent for the location was negotiable and by email the listing agent informed me that the final price that the owner was willing to go to was $75,000.00 a year with proper financing, and could have it furnished with the basic amenities such as beds and easily acquirable kitchen equipment for another $455.00 a month or $5460.00 totaling at $80460 per year. This location would provide convenience since vans could be driven to the facilities by the workers for that day and driven back by them to return back home. For storage at the warehouse we calculated that it would be just around 10,000 kwh per month and $4800.00 a year for electricity. We determined this by using the current cost of electricity per kwh in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which is 0.04 cents per kwh. We estimated that the amount of kwh per month would be around 10,000 since we have planning on having lights and a large cooler to keep perishable foods good. We calculated 10,000 kwh by adding the amount of energy required for a standard 10ft by 10ft walk in cooler and tacking on a few more kwh for miscellaneous usage of electricity. Then for the facilities we estimated that the kwh per facility for a month would be 6,000 kwh based on the average consumption of electricity for a double floor home in the Addis Ababa that has air conditioning. We also included energy for the use of fridges for the storage of foods at the facilities to calculate the kwh and by multiplying the 6,000 by 3, then 12 months, and again by 0.04 cents we get $8640.00 a year for the use of electricity. So the exact total we calculated was $488,550.79 and we added a few more for miscellaneous costs totaling at $500,000.00. The total estimated cost for distribution we found was significantly less than what we planned on and was a surprise to us all. Our estimated costs based on WFP annual reports and our calculations has supplied us with a complete idea of where this organization can go and what it will cost for the organization to be running and supplying food to the needy and starving people in Ethiopia.

Work Cited

1. "2008 Chevrolet Cargo Van Express." Frassifieds. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. .

2. "Gas Prices in Ethiopia." NUMBEO. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. .

3. "Property No. 280." LiveInEthiopia.com Leases Warehouse Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Administration, Addis Ababa. Web. 1 May 2012. .

4. "Property Title : A Brand New G+5 ImYK 1784." Ezega Real Estate. Web. 2 May 2012. .

5. "Property Title : Huge Warehouse for Sale- HN IMNZ 652." Ezega Real Estate. Web. 1 May 2012. .

6. www.wfp.org. World Food Programme, 28 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. .

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