Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Response in Humanitarian Organizations in Kenya.

Abstract

Disasters were unpredictable and unavoidable, necessitating adequate disaster response plans. Humanitarian logistics, which gained prominence after the 2004 Asian tsunami, played an important part in crisis prevention. Despite weak links in relief chain management, issues remained. Humanitarian logistics had a huge impact on disaster relief efforts, as studies revealed a variety of challenges, including a lack of sufficient SCM software and poor facilities. Despite its importance, few studies have explored the impact of disaster assistance on humanitarian organizations, particularly in Kenya. The study sought to address this gap by evaluating the impact of humanitarian logistics on emergency response in Nairobi, Kenya. Humanitarian groups, policymakers, and NGOs profited from the research, which informed strategic planning and policy creation to strengthen disaster response operations. The Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) proposed that organizations rely on external resources for survival and growth. It underlined the importance of forming strategic alliances to secure resources. In humanitarian settings, logistics were critical in procuring and allocating resources for successful emergency response. The research methodology used a cross-sectional descriptive design to investigate the association between humanitarian logistics management techniques and emergency response in Kenyan humanitarian organizations. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to obtain data from 64 Nairobi-based firms. Data analysis required the use of both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, such as regression and correlation analysis. The study found a significant positive association (β = 0.732, p < 0.001) between logistics management practices and emergency response, indicating that improving logistics leads to better response outcomes. The study recommended prioritizing logistical development and resource allocation to improve emergency response capabilities.