ABSTRACT

The topic of study was humanitarian supply networks a case study of UNHCR. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the different challenges of Humanitarian supply network, to investigate the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network and to assess the factors that affect humanitarian supply network.

This study adopted a survey research design. A survey research design is a process of collecting information from a sample of people who have been selected to represent a defined target population. This study adopted a survey design because it is easy and convenient to be conducted through interviews or questionnaire instruments, or both. In this study, both instruments, i.e. self-administered interview guides and questionnaires were employed as appropriate. This study targeted a total of 45 respondents from UNHCR. This is because all these categories of respondents are believed to be knowledgeable about the extent to which workload affects employee performance.

The study concludes that humanitarian organization should have proper planning frame work to enable them avoid emergency procurement, the study also further concludes that organizations should ensure that they eliminate costs in the supply chain network and the study also further recommends that humanitarian organizations should practice agile logistics to enable them reduce costs.

The study recommends that humanitarian organizations should plan for the purchases to avoid emergency purchases and achieve value for money. The study also further recommends that Humanitarian organizations should eliminate costs by training their procurement personnel. Humanitarian organizations also should develop partnerships with their suppliers to achieve value for money. Humanitarian organizations should also collaborate with suppliers and they should share technology with the suppliers to enable them achieve value for money.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

This chapter covers the background of the study, Statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research questions, and scope of the study, significance of the study and definition of terms.

1.1 Background to the study

The ultimate goal of Humanitarian supply network is to deliver the right supplies in the right quantities to the right locations at the right time to the most vulnerable groups of people as required by the donors and development agencies (Bhimani & Song, 2016). Some of the world’s worst humanitarian disaster were in Haiti affected at least 3 million people with between 217,000 to 230,000 deaths and flooding in Thailand affected over 12.8 million people with the World Bank estimating economic damages exceeding US$45 billion, these humanitarian disasters gives rise to the need for humanitarian assistance to the victims affected by such natural calamities , its therefore imperative for development organization to develop a humanitarian supply network that is cost effective and timely, (Tang, 2011).

Humanitarian organizations are needed to efficiently provide aid to people in need. Humanitarian supply network can be explained as “the set of actions taken by organizations in an attempt to move information, goods, and services for the specific goal of aiding target beneficiaries, environments, and societies” (Bhimani & Song, 2016), while Em-dat, (2017) asserts that Humanitarian Supply network comprise all activities and processes associated with the flow and transformation of goods from the raw material stage through the end user and from the donation to the consumers.

The number of people in need of assistance is extensive and according to the United Nations (2016), last year the number of people needing aid exceeded 76 million in more than 31 countries. Also, there were more than 400 natural disasters and more than 51 million refugees (UN, 2017). Natural disasters and total people affected have shown an increase in the past 25 years however the total deaths have decreased. It could also be added that the total damage because of disasters has increased (Em-dat, 2017). Further, there are global challenges that also have to be taken into consideration, such as population growth, Logistical difficulties, political instability these have posed a serious challenge to the humanitarian organizations.

The challenges faced by Humanitarian supply network imply the need of adaptation and development of strategies for countries and communities. One should also bear in mind that the effects of disasters impact the life of people, infrastructure and economies. However, the aid does not develop as fast as the crises and disasters emerge. It is of great importance that the resources and aid are managed as efficient as possible (Bhimani & Song, 2016).

Humanitarian relief-operation management engages very different players, who may have a high degree of heterogeneity in terms of culture, purposes, interests, mandates, capacity, and logistics expertise all these posses a great challenge on the ability of Humanitarian supply network to deliver goods and services needed by the victims on time (Balcik et al. 2010).

The Key players in Humanitarian supply network can be categorized as ; governments, the military, aid agencies, donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector companies among which logistics service providers are preeminent (Kovács & Spens, 2011).

Humanitarian supply network tend to be unstable, prone to political and military influence, and inefficient due to lack of joint planning and inter-organizational collaboration. They deal with inadequate logistics infrastructure, along with shifting origins of and/or destinations for relief supplies without warning. Further, donors often request their funds be spent on direct materials and food, and even at a particular disaster location, rather than on crucial but indirect services such as information systems, staff training, and/or disaster preparedness. Therefore, humanitarian supply network management does not only deal with delivering goods, materials or information to the point of consumption for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people, but also need to manage value to donors and other stakeholders (Schulz & Blecken, 2010).

According to Chandes and Paché (2009) collaboration is essential to enable the organization achieve efficiency in the Humanitarian supply network this is because this results into timely and effective supply management systems there by reducing on the costs and enabling the organization to be competitive, collaboration is specifically important and can be achieved by an organization having a direct link with its suppliers this should involve all the suppliers in the tiers on the same view Kumar and Havey (2013) assert that the absence of collaboration results in lost time, wasted resources and ultimately a deeply disorganized Humanitarian supply network they further assert that for an organization to achieve efficiency in the humanitarian supply network systems it’s imperative for an organization to ensure that collaboration is given the highest priority.

For Humanitarian supply network to function with success there is a need for strategies to guide the operations. Since humanitarian organizations usually operate in unpredictable and volatile environments, flexibility of resources and coordination is essential, this to be able to deliver aid to the where it is needed and further as quick as possible (Charles et. al., 2010).

There are numerous strategies for Humanitarian supply network to apply to their operations in order to be more effective and one example is subsequently the agile approach, where agility is concerned with high responsiveness (Cozzolino et al., 2012). It is particularly essential for humanitarian organizations with high responsiveness as it is concerned with timesaving, which in turn is related to saving lives therefore for a quick response after a disaster occurs; the supply network is adapted according to agile principles (Cozzolino, Rossi & Conforti, 2012).

Supply network is a pattern of temporal and spatial processes carried out at facility nodes and over distribution links, which adds value for customers through the manufacturing and delivery of products. It comprises the general state of business affairs in which all kinds of material (work-in-process material as well as finished products) are transformed and moved between various value-added points to maximize the value added for customers.

A supply chain is a special instance of a supply network in which raw materials materials and finished goods are procured exclusively as products through a chain of processes that supply one another (Gralla, 2014).

1.2 Statement of problem

Disaster relief operations tackle circumstances affected by uncertainty and constant change, which highlights quick and effective response as vital for success (Pettit & Beresford, 2009). In relation with UNHCR the ability to quickly respond and rescue the world’s most vulnerable people affected by natural disaster of political challenges is of utmost importance and its priority.

However the key players in Humanitarian supply network mainly donors, development organizations, government and military have different requirements which affect the ability of humanitarian organization like UNHCR face challenges in its ability to respond timely to its core goal. According to Lauras & Van Wassenhove, (2010) It is debated that an actor’s skill to build agile capabilities to rapidly respond and conduct dynamic operations affects the operational performance of humanitarian supply network.

The UNHCR faces several challenges like political instability, mismatch in demand and supply and poor infrastructure, this affects the delivery of relief Items there by leading to logistical challenges. According to Tang, (2011) when disaster affected Haiti in 2010 UNHCR had a lot of challenges accessing the people who needed the relief items like medicine however despite the challenges some of the people received the necessary relief requirement. The other critical factors affecting humanitarian supply network like UNHCR is a mismatch of its supply in some disaster struck nations the supply has been less than expected while in other areas the supply is more than demand.

1.3 Purpose of the study

The purpose of study is to investigate the humanitarian supply networks.

1.4 Objectives of the study

The objectives of the study are;

To examine the different challenges of Humanitarian supply network.
To investigate the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network.

To assess the factors that affect humanitarian supply network.

1.5 Research questions

What are the different challenges of Humanitarian supply network?
What are the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network?

What the factors that affect humanitarian supply network?

1.6 Scope of the study

The study scope will cover the following aspects;

1.6.1 Study scope

The study scope will include the different challenges of Humanitarian supply network, the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network and factors that affect humanitarian supply network.

1.6.2 Geographical scope

The study will be conducted at UNHCR offices in Kampala, located at Plot 11/13, Mackenzie Close, Off Mackenzie Vale, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda.

1.6.3 Time scope

The period of investigation will be from March to August 2018.

1.7.0 Significance of the study

The study will enable UNHCR have information regarding the different challenges of Humanitarian supply network.
The study will also enable the future scholars have information regarding the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network.

The study will also enable the other researcher have information on the various ways of improving the performance of Humanitarian supply network.