Mitigating Inefficiencies in Humanitarian Supply Chains

As disaster response becomes more complex, entities involved in humanitarian operations also increase in numbers and sophistication. Humanitarian actors are beginning to see the value that an efficient supply chain can bring. However, participating actors are faced with competition for funding and often do not cooperate with each other, which produces inefficient outcomes at the expenses of the beneficiaries. This paper explores the general concepts of a humanitarian supply chain, its actors and interactions, and reveal how competitive behaviours produce inefficiencies. The paper will present a case study that illustrates the inefficiencies in a humanitarian supply chain, by using system dynamics. Finally, the paper will explore various mitigation strategies by using incentives to reduce the inefficiencies, and conclude with some avenues for further research.