Improving Last Mile Distributors’ performance with the Global Distributors Collective

The Global Distributors Collective (GDC) is a global collective of circa. 200 last mile distributors (LMDs), working to tackle systemic challenges that prevent LMDs from operating sustainably and at scale. By improving LMDs’ business performance, the GDC aims to make life-changing products available and affordable to all. In 2018, the GDC was co-founded by Practical Action, Hystra and Bopinc and, since then, Hystra has been actively involved  as a strategic and implementing partner of the initiative. In 2022, Hystra stepped away from the consortium as a core partner, and is now part of the GDC Advisory Council; while also continuing to support  particular GDC activities, such as the creation of the first Last Mile Distribution benchmark.

Between 2018 and 2022, Hystra’s role included:

• Acting as a strategic and implementing partner for the GDC

• Co-authoring or providing strategic input into key GDC knowledge products, to help shape the sector and the narrative around LMD, including:

  • "Last Mile Distribution: State of the Sector” (GDC, 2019)

  • “Identifying affordable quality solar products for the last mile” (GDC, 2020)

  • "How is the last mile distribution sector adapting and innovating following COVID-19?” (GDC, 2021)

  • “Growth and fundraising journeys of last mile distributors” (GDC, 2021)

  • “Wholesalers for beneficial products: The missing link for impact at the last mile” (GDC, 2022)

  • “Last mile distribution capital continuum: Trends, gaps and opportunities” (GDC, 2022)

• Designing and implementing GDC pilots – Designing and launching a central purchasing pilot with a local partner in Kenya (2019-2021)

70% of GDC members say the GDC has helped to build an LMD community, and 60% say the GDC has added value to their business or increased their impact.

"As one of the founding partners of the GDC, Hystra has been an essential part of the GDC’s start-up and growth, helping to shape and better structure our current and future strategy. The team has deep expertise in last mile distribution and inclusive business more broadly, is highly collaborative, and has brought exceptional critical thinking and analysis capabilities into the early years of the GDC."

-Emma Colenbrander, head of the GDC