Factors Affecting the Outbound Humanitarian Logistics Practices of United Nations International Children Emergency Fund and Ethiopian Red Cross Society
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Date
2023-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Humanitarian logistics plays a critical role in providing aid and relief to communities affected by disasters and emergencies. Efficient and effective logistics operations are essential for the timely and efficient delivery of relief supplies, such as food, medication, shelter, and water, to those in need. However, humanitarian logistics faces numerous challenges, including unpredictable demand, damaged infrastructure, limited resources, and coordination issues. This research aims to investigate the outbound humanitarian logistics practices of two prominent organizations, UNICEF and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), and identify the factors that affect their effectiveness. To achieve the research objectives, quantitative approach is employed. The sample population consisted of 200 logistics and supply chain management professionals from UNICEF and ERCS Ethiopia, who were chosen through a census survey. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentage analysis, mean, standard deviation, tables, and graphs. Furthermore, inferential statistics, specifically multiple linear regression analysis, were employed to examine causal linkages between variables. The study conducted on the outbound humanitarian logistics practices of UNICEF and ERCS revealed valuable insights. The respondents generally agreed that their organizations effectively evaluated the situation, adhered to ethical procurement standards, selected appropriate transportation modes, had adequate warehouse facilities, and followed humanitarian principles during distribution. However, there were areas for improvement, such as matching procured supplies with requests, efficient transportation of relief personnel, temporary storage during disasters, and quality control measures for distributed goods. The regression analysis showed a weak positive relationship between certain factors (lack of donor funding, lack of collaboration and coordination,
unavailability of local market suppliers, government policy and regulation, and human resource-related
challenges) and outbound humanitarian logistics practices. Recommendations were made to enhance
collaboration, improve delivery time consistency, seek diverse funding sources, address human resource
challenges, and implement continuous monitoring and evaluation for ongoing optimization.
Key Words: Logistics, Humanitarian Operations, Humanitarian logistics, Outbound humanitarian
logistics, Humanitarian performance
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Keywords
Logistics