CMA CGM Foundation
Containers of Hope
Since 2012, the Conteneurs d’Espoir programme has enabled Action contre la Faim to draw on the logistical support of the CMA CGM Foundation to ship essential equipment free of charge to its programmes around the world.
In crisis contexts where logistical challenges are numerous, this collaboration plays a key role in enabling Action contre la Faim to work with vulnerable populations in conflict and humanitarian crisis areas.
Thanks to this historic partnership, more than 7,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid have been delivered to 22 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East. This aid consists mainly of therapeutic food and medical equipment to treat malnourished children.
CMA CGM’s high-performance logistics facilities and international presence are assets that enable us to mobilise the necessary aid quickly and flexibly to meet the many global humanitarian challenges that require an emergency response.
In 2024, for example, this transport enabled 15,000 children to receive treatment for undernutrition in Burma, Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
PharmaBox: a humanitarian innovation
Developed by the CMA CGM Foundation in collaboration with Action contre la Faim, the PharmaBox is a humanitarian innovation that meets Action contre la Faim’s need to store and secure stocks of medicines and treatments for undernutrition in humanitarian areas.
A 40-foot container has been transformed into a mobile pharmacy, self-sufficient in clean energy thanks to its solar panels and suitable for all modes of transport: sea, rail and road.
A first Pharmabox has been deployed in the Central African Republic since February 2025 at an Action contre la Faim site, and nine additional PharmaBoxes will be deployed in Africa in the coming months to facilitate access to medicines and care in several humanitarian crisis zones where Action contre la Faim teams are operating.
The result of collaboration between the CMA CGM Foundation and Action contre la Faim, this drug storage solution reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the drug supply chain and access to healthcare for the most vulnerable populations in countries hit by humanitarian crises.
The deployment of the 10 PharmaBoxes in Africa, thanks to the support of the CMA CGM Foundation, will enable Action contre la Faim teams to meet the logistical challenges of supporting health and undernutrition programmes to treat thousands of women and children.
About the CMA CGM Foundation
Chaired by Tanya Saadé Zeenny, since its creation in 2005 the CMA CGM Foundation has supported more than 400 projects in France, Lebanon and around the world, helping tens of thousands of children. Its priority is to promote education for all and equal opportunities to enable every child and young person to find their place in tomorrow’s world. It also takes action in the face of humanitarian crises requiring an emergency response. To this end, it mobilises the maritime and logistical expertise of the CMA CGM Group and transports humanitarian equipment around the world through its Conteneurs d’Espoir (Containers of Hope) operation.
The news
The result of a long-standing partnership spanning 12 years and almost a year of collaboration between teams from the CMA CGM Foundation, the CMA CGM Group and Action contre la Faim experts, the PharmaBox meets Action contre la Faim’s need to store and secure stocks of medicines in humanitarian areas. This maritime container transformed into a mobile pharmacy combines sturdiness, mobility and energy autonomy thanks to solar panels, making it possible to provide medical and nutritional care for 50,000 children and pregnant women per year and per PharmaBox.
An innovative solution adapted to humanitarian contexts, the first PharmaBox unit left Marseille in early December 2024 and has been operational in the Central African Republic since the first quarter of 2025. A second unit will leave during the summer to support our healthcare programmes in Madagascar.