Assessment of Humanitarian Supply Chain Management Challenges on Performance: The case of World Food Programme- Ethiopia
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Date
2018-05
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Abstract
In today’s world, many people are being exposed to a number of natural and man-made disasters which
claimed lives of several of them. Under such situations, the presence and relevance of humanitarian
organizations is very crucial to allow the victims have access to basic supplies. In this process, the role of
supply chain is paramount despite humanitarian organizations face many challenges with regards to
supply chain management. Many research works were carried out in the field of humanitarian supply
chain management. However, much focus has not been given to address the challenges of humanitarian
supply chain management in emergency or relief operations and their impacts on operations of
humanitarian organizations particularly in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a landlocked country often affected by
drought with food insecurity crisis. In this respect, the country is facing unique challenges in its
humanitarian supply chain management which in turn influence the operations of humanitarian
organizations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the challenges of humanitarian
supply chain management in WFP Ethiopia. The study adopted descriptive research type and involved
collection of primary data through questionnaire survey and the contents of the questionnaire had two
parts: (1) the profile of the respondents and (2) humanitarian supply chain management challenges in the
form of Likert scales. The focus of the questionnaire in terms of humanitarian supply chain challenges
were related to lack of coordination, information and communications integration, inadequate transport
capacity, port congestions and custom clearance and inadequate warehousing. In addition to the
questionnaire survey, key-informant interviews were made with senior management personnel of WFP
Ethiopia and NDRMC. Secondary data on relevant items were also collected. The survey results showed
that an inadequate warehouse in terms of capacity and number was the most supply chain challenges that
WFP Ethiopia was facing. The rating of the challenge of warehouse was followed by lack of
transportation facilities and coordination related challenges. The result of the key-informant interviews
also showed similar result in which most of the informants agreed that various inter-related challenges
are existing in WFP Ethiopia supply chain management. Based on the present study, it is recommended
that emphasis should be given to warehouse, transportation and coordination management in order to
improve supply chain management of the organization.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to Graduate Stduies of Addis Ababa University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master
of Business Administration
Keywords
Humanitarian Organizations, Supply chain management challenges