I’ve worked for a company that supplied key-in-hand clinics for developing countries; picture a three room rectangular building with an x-ray room, a doctors office and a central reception/waiting room.
We had tender from Angola where the client - a local aid organization - wanted us to supply everything for the clinic, including building materials, from Europe to the small lost in wilderness area the clinic would be built.
It was standard practice to source construction and materials locally because good sense.
Took several meetings to convince the client there was no added value to the project by having all building materials imported.
One of the most painful experiences in dealing with human beings I have ever had.
It was confusing, to be gentle, handling the situation.
Everyone involved were genuinely good people but lived with the impression nothing in their country was adequate and what passed through was a notion they wanted to boast about their clinic being built with the best materials available.
We managed to diffuse the situation and save them a good chunk of money by having our engineer go there to personally select locally sourced materials - including bricks - to “guarantee” adequate and top quality product.
I’ve worked for a company that supplied key-in-hand clinics for developing countries; picture a three room rectangular building with an x-ray room, a doctors office and a central reception/waiting room.
We had tender from Angola where the client - a local aid organization - wanted us to supply everything for the clinic, including building materials, from Europe to the small lost in wilderness area the clinic would be built.
It was standard practice to source construction and materials locally because good sense.
Took several meetings to convince the client there was no added value to the project by having all building materials imported.
One of the most painful experiences in dealing with human beings I have ever had.
Ugh. All the donation money they must waste.
It was confusing, to be gentle, handling the situation.
Everyone involved were genuinely good people but lived with the impression nothing in their country was adequate and what passed through was a notion they wanted to boast about their clinic being built with the best materials available.
We managed to diffuse the situation and save them a good chunk of money by having our engineer go there to personally select locally sourced materials - including bricks - to “guarantee” adequate and top quality product.
But it was ridiculous.
We were treated like show items.