Challenges, gaps and trends in humanitarian logistics

Challenges, gaps and trends in
humanitarian logistics
Gyöngyi Kovács
Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain
Research Institute (HUMLOG Institute)
HUMLOG Institute
Background
» Rapidly evolving field of humanitarian logistics, e.g.
» In practice: from a criticism of a lack of co-ordination to the
Log Cluster, LOG, HLA, joint CAP appeals etc.
» In research: from occasional articles 1960-2005 to a boom,
>10 special issues in 2008-2011, a dedicated journal (JHLSCM)
» In education: from a criticism of a lack of training to the
establishment of certification programmes (CHL, CHSCM,
CMedLog), masters & PhD programmes…
» Project on challenges in humanitarian logistics
» Previous studies to analyze the current state of humanitarian
logistics in different countries (e.g. Ghana, China)
» Invited paper to IJPDLM on “trends” (for Vol.41 No.1)
» Start of JHLSCM, need for further updates
HUMLOG Institute
Gap analysis
» Sample:
» EAB members of the
Journal of Humanitarian
Logistics and Supply Chain
Management + snowball
sampling
» Data collection:
» Open-ended questions
about state of the art + gaps
» Data analysis:
» for gaps
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State of the art in research
» Disaster-specific
» Later organization-specific
» Focus on the phase of disaster response, neglecting
mitigation, preparedness and reconstruction to development
» Preparedness from the governmental view or the facility
location / prepositioning view only
» Main conceptual foci
» Inter-agency co-ordination and the lack thereof
» Performance measurement
» And various smaller topics, e.g. needs assessment, last mile
issues etc.
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State of the art in practice and
education
» Implementation of cluster approach and other coordination mechanisms
» IASC, logistics cluster, purchasing consortia, communities of
practice, professional groups
» Joint funding appeals (CAP appeal)
» Outsourcing to commercial LSPs, partnerships
» Development of new products and services
» Specialisation, diversification
» HL software: fleet management, pipeline management…
» Humanitarian organisations as service providers
» Development of dedicated training and education
» Professional certifications, courses, dedicated masters
degrees
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Results for research
» Need for more problem-driven research
» Empirical-practical problems and their solutions
» Research with rigor AND relevance
» Need for applicable solutions
» Working with, not around the constraints of reality
» Feasibility in solution and solution time
» Considering the possibilities of having / obtaining data
quickly enough as for this solution to be considered
» The good news
» New software implementation (e.g. HELIOS) will make more,
and more accurate data, possible to obtain
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Topical gaps
1.
Collaboration vs. co-opetition vs. supply chain
collaboration
»
»
»
Latent relationships
Purchasing consortia combined with supply chain
collaboration
Constraints to collaboration (incl. hum.principles, mandates)
2. Link between short term relief and long-term activities
»
»
»
Linking relief and rehabilitation to development (LRRD)
Preparedness
Forgotten disasters, complex emergencies
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Topical gaps
3. Sustainability of disaster relief supply chains
»
»
»
»
»
»
Sustainable supply chain design – with an exit strategy
Long-term impact of humanitarian operations
Greening the relief supply chain
Community development
Local/global sourcing – impact on local communities
Micro-financing – empowering beneficiaries as customers
4. Product and service development for humanitarian
organisations
»
Products for humanitarian purposes
»
Humanitarian organisations as service providers
HUMLOG Institute
The HUMLOG Institute
» Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Research
Institute – HUMLOG Institute
» Foundation in Apr 2008 by the Hanken School of Economics and the
National Defence University
» Board including representatives of humanitarian organisations
(currently UNICEF Finland and Huoltovarmuuskeskus/NESA)
» Partnership programme for companies, humanitarian organisations
and universities / research institutes
» Major current research projects
» Relief Supply Chain Management (RelSCM): Academy of Finland
project
» Food Security and Development: Commissioned Development
Research by MFA, together with Väestöliitto
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JHLSCM
www.emeraldinsight.com/jhlscm.htm
HUMLOG Institute
Further information:
HUMLOG Institute:
www.hanken.fi/humloginstitute
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Gyöngyi Kovács (kovacs@hanken.fi)
HUMLOG Institute