Riders for Health introduced the Transport Resource Management System,

Riders for Health introduced the Transport Resource Management System, an integrated system, which incorporates training in driving skills, daily maintenance procedures and interval preventative maintenance. RfH places great importance on building local capacity to manage and maintain the vehicles. As a result, RfH is able to operate fleets of vehicles in the harshest conditions at zero-breakdown for five years or longer. RfH has demonstrated that a properly managed vehicle under its system will save more than 50% of costs over a six year period, compared to an unmanaged vehicle.

Currently, RfH is operating three main programs. The largest is in Zimbabwe, where RfH is managing the Ministry of Health’s motorcycles for an agreed fee per kilometer. RfH is also supporting the fleets of Plan International, World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services.. In total, RfH runs six maintenance workshops and 370 vehicles around the country. Each workshop has 1-2 technicians that meet the health workers once a month for the maintenance of their motorcycles.

RfH also has a program in The Gambia where the government has outsourced its entire health-system transport management to RfH. In Nigeria, RfH maintains the fleet for the Polio Eradication program of the World Health Organization (WHO) and has just won the contract for the management of UN vehicles there. In total, RfH local country teams manage over 1400 vehicles. In 2002, RfH set up the International Academy of Vehicle Management (IAVM) in Harare, where it has trained more than 300 people in fleet management.

During the last three years, RfH generated over 70% of its revenues from contracts partners. In addition, RfH receives donations, mainly through fundraising activities in the motorcycle community.