[Stoves] Defining the "last mile"

[Paul Anderson]

Dear Stovers,

I think you are aware of the USAID & Winrock message about the 
Expression of Interest (EOI) about grants for stove work in Kenya, 
mainly on distribution issues, not on production. They ask for comments 
to be submitted by January 11, 2013 to kgross at winrock.org (I only saved 
the .pdf so I do not have the location where you can download it. )

I wrote to Winrock and included the following:

I have read the solicitation of EOI and see no reason to wait until 
January to send this comment:.

In section 2.2: [ I will bring this discussion to the Stoves Listserv. I 
hope that you monitor those messages.]

Specific objective:
Remove barriers and strengthen distribution channels (especially those 
closest to the “last mile [2]”) to expand access to and increase 
consumer adoption and use of fuel-efficient cookstoves;

The footnote says:
[2] The last mile is defined as the last transaction in a 
business-to-consumer delivery service at a point when a product is 
delivered to the final recipient.

The objective is fine, but the definition is not what I think is the 
“last mile.” Remember, I am a retired university professor of GEOGRAPHY, 
especially of mapping sciences.

Your written definition seems to say the last mile is wherever the 
product reaches the purchaser, or the very last person on earth to buy 
one, even if he or she is a holdout who lives within a mile of the 
factory. Also, that "last mile" can never be quantified or identified or 
known to have been reached. It is the "pie in the sky" talk of 
politicians and dreamers (bless them all), but it is not very practical.

I have thought that the “last mile” is to reach the furthest point, the 
least accessible, the most remote potential purchasers. They do not 
necessarily buy or receive [gift?] a product. But they have been reached.

In some situations that can be quite easy, such as where a significant 
road goes to the edge of a lake or international border or some other 
barrier that is not easily crossed. The distribution chain has gone as 
far as it can; it has gone the last mile in that area.

Now consider remote areas with only footpaths plus some big obstacles 
like a cliff or river that is not commonly crossed. There could be 
another house or even a village on the other side and it could literally 
be less than a mile away, but that other side is actually serviced by 
different access roads and trails and different distributors and sales 
people.

Many of those remote people might be serviced at a village market (where 
they could see a stove demonstration or be able to purchase at some 
shop). Then getting the stove info and actual stoves to that village 
market would constitute reaching the last mile.

So the :|"last mile" is to reach the ones furthest away ON THAT 
PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF TRAVEL/COMMUNICATIONS. This can be objectively 
quantified in geographic terms. And you can mark it on a map and make 
sure that there are not isolated areas that were not reached. This is 
"Industrial / Business Geography" and is actually studied and optimized 
by some geographers (or marketers with a geographic perspective.)

I raise this discussion to the Stoves Listserv because there might be 
other interpretations of what is the “last mile”. Then Winrock can sort 
out its definition before the formal request for awards (RFA) is released.

Paul

-- 
Paul S. Anderson, PhD  aka "Dr TLUD"
Email:  psanders at ilstu.edu   Skype: paultlud  Phone: +1-309-452-7072
Website:  www.drtlud.com