Sustainable Humanitarian Research Articles

Identification of Key Drivers for Performance Measurement in Sustainable Humanitarian Relief Logistics: An Integrated Fuzzy Delphi-DEMATEL Approach

Sustainable humanitarian relief logistics (SHRL) is gaining attention due to increased disasters, unpredictable demand, large volumes, high delivery stakes, and limited resources, evaluated through adaptable performance drivers. This study presents a novel hybrid framework for SHRL, combining the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL). Initially, FDM is utilized to reach a consensus among experts concerning key performance indicators (KPIs) for humanitarian logistics and supply chains. By incorporating the inherent uncertainty and vagueness in expert judgments, FDM refines the list of key performance indicators that reflect the real-life conditions and constraints in disaster operations. Finally, the fuzzy DEMATEL approach was used to analyze the interrelationships among factors, identifying cause-and-effect behavior and ranking them, forming a robust theoretical framework. Based on the acquired results, the KPIs attached to the Quality (P1) aspect of the proposed framework have gained significant importance and are the main cause in a cause-and-effect relationship which impacts and is helpful to improve the performance of humanitarian organizations in all phases of disaster management. The KPIs prompt delivery (D1), and delivery accuracy (D2) are more significant, while capacity building and training (D19) and delivery compliance (D15) are least significant in SHRL scenarios. This research is expected to support humanitarian organizations in enhancing their capabilities, thereby improving the effectiveness and efficiency of aid delivery in disaster-stricken areas.

A Decision Support Model for Barriers and Optimal Strategy Design in Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Management

Sustainable humanitarian supply chain (SHSC) management enables effective and efficient responses to natural and human-made disasters. Existing literature falls short of offering decision support (DS) models to address the barriers and strategies to designing SHSC. To this end, this study develops a DS model that identifies and prioritizes the barriers to SHSC and determines optimal strategies for mitigating those barriers. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. As part of the qualitative approach, a field study was applied using in-depth interviews to determine the barriers and corresponding strategies, while under the quantitative approach, a quality function deployment (QFD) integrated optimization technique was used to prioritize barriers and determine optimal strategies to mitigate the SHSC barriers. The study found that a lack of contingency planning, the prevalence of corruption and political interference, and a lack of social and environmental awareness are the most important barriers, while logistics outsourcing, supply chain (SC) performance management, and SC flexibility are the most essential strategies. We also found that our DS model is highly flexible and can be adapted under different scenarios, which makes the model applicable to different contexts. This study has a significant contribution to literature and practice. We developed a novel decision model that captured cost savings and leveraged both cost and time savings from interrelated strategies to determine the best optimal strategy while applying QFD-integrated optimization modeling. The paper’s findings will assist humanitarian SC managers in designing an effective, efficient, and sustainable humanitarian SC.

Leveraging Industry 4.0 Technologies for Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chains: Evidence from the Extant Literature

Prevailing and exacerbating impacts of climate change call for robust and resilient humanitarian supply chains (HSCs). To that end, intelligent technologies that brought about the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) revolution, such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, may tremendously impact the optimal design and effective management of HSCs. In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature network analysis and identify trends in I4.0 and HSCs. We posit the need to instill into current HSC efforts the quadruple bottom-line (cultural, economic, environmental, and social) pillars of sustainability and define a Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain (SHSC). Based on the extant literature and ongoing practice, we highlight how I4.0 technologies can aid SHSC stages from disaster risk assessment to preparedness to response to relief. The complex nature of SHSCs requires a holistic and multidisciplinary approach and collaboration by scholars, policymakers, and industry practitioners to pool solution resources. We offer future research venues in this fledgling but life-saving scientific discipline. SHSCs can be empowered with I4.0 technologies, a much needed direction in our climate-changed world.

A New Stochastic Bi-level Optimization Model for Post-disaster Relief Scheduling Problem in Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chains with Uncertain Relief Supplies and Demands

Post-disaster relief scheduling problem in sustainable humanitarian supply chains (SHSCs) has received increasing attentions from academia. Most existing works focus on the uncertain relief supplies. However, since the destruction caused by disaster can not be estimated accurately and timely, relief demands also can be uncertain. Therefore, in this paper, we study a post-disaster relief scheduling problem in SHSCs considering uncertain relief supplies and demands simultaneously. The objective is to minimize the expected total unsatisfied demand rate, adverse environment impact and economic cost on the upper level decision, and to maximize the expected total survivors’ perceived satisfaction on the lower level decision. For the problem, a new stochastic bi-level optimization model is first established. And a hybrid solution approach including a sample average approximation method, a prime-dual algorithm, a linearization technique and a global criteria method is further devised. Finally, a case study is conducted.

Key Challenges to Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chains: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has had a major impact on health, economic, social, and industrial activities. It has disrupted supply chain management and affected the movement of essential supplies to a large extent. This study aims to identify and evaluate the challenges hampering sustainable humanitarian supply chain management (SHSCM). Twenty critical challenges to SHSCM are identified using a comprehensive literature review, and three strategies were developed. The challenges and strategies were verified using expert input. The challenges were evaluated using the neutrosophic analytic hierarchical process (AHP) method. The neutrosophic TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for interactive multicriteria decision making) method was then used to select the best strategy. The findings reveal that facility location problems, short lead times for emergency supplies, spread of rumors, rapid emergence of new clusters, and doubt concerning the available remedy are five critical challenges in SHSCM during COVID-19. Public–private partnerships are identified as the best strategy in SHSCM. Finally, this paper discusses the implications to sustainable development goals in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.

A multi-objective stochastic programming model to configure a sustainable humanitarian logistics considering deprivation cost and patient severity

As the occurrence of disasters has increased frequently and has resulted in growing concern about their adverse effects on the environment, Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL) has received great attention recently. SHL aims to reduce disaster damages in an environmentally-friendly manner in the shortest possible time. The terms including ‘environmentally-friendly’ and ‘shortest possible time’ refer to the environmental and social aspects of sustainability. This research proposes a stochastic multi-objective mixed-integer programming model to configure an SHL network during the response phase. Having compared to the research literature, this is the first study that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability by incorporating relief cost, deprivation cost, and carbon emissions, respectively. Then, the improved multi-choice goal programming approach is applied to solve the proposed multi-objective model. To indicate the validity of the proposed model, an earthquake that occurred in a region of Kermanshah, Iran, in 2017 is investigated as a real case study. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed and several managerial and theoretical insights are provided. The results show that exerting environmental issues in humanitarian logistics does not necessarily increase the relief costs, but can be in contrast with the social aspect. Furthermore, a minor increase in the budget of the preparedness phase drastically decreases the response costs.

Designing Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chains

This is a multidisciplinary study on operationalizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in humanitarian operations through supply chain management methods. It is motivated by the belief that for SDGs to be pursued in humanitarian operations, they need to be contextualized in the idiosyncratic settings and approached systematically. Towards this end, this paper develops and operationalizes a strategic sustainable humanitarian supply chain framework using the design science approach. The study starts with analyzing the humanitarian operations characteristics and identifying the critical supply chain capabilities required for sustainable operations. It then re-conceptualizes sustainability in the humanitarian context and proposes a formula of sustainability performance in humanitarian operations. After that, the humanitarian supply chain structural components are delineated and decomposed into operational elements in order to identify the configurations that lead to optimal sustainability performance. The findings then converge into a framework to enable the identification of context-contingent sustainable supply chain strategies in humanitarian operations. This paper makes three contributions to SDG research: 1) it contextualizes sustainability in the humanitarian setting through postulating the concept and formula of net sustainability value as the single bottom line in humanitarian operations; 2) it increases operationality of SDGs in the humanitarian sector through the design of a strategic framework for sustainable humanitarian supply chains; and 3) it increases the interdisciplinarity of SDG research by using a generic supply chain framework that can be applied to integrate multilevel multidisciplinary sustainability studies.

THE AGILITY, ADAPTABILITY, AND ALIGNMENT AS THE DETERMINANTS OF THE SUSTAINABLE HUMANITARIAN SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN

Purpose: The main objective behind the study is to investigate the relationship between agility, adaptability and alignment as determinant of the Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Design. Methodology: The fashion industry is one of the dynamic industries, which undergoes rapid transformation in both the demand and flexibility. A review of the earlier relevant research in the area has been included in the research paper along with an analysis of HSC in comparison to other commercial supply chains. This research paper goes over the definition of SHSC, development, and hurdles in its design, identification of research limitations and development of a model and hypothesis. Statistical analysis for example surveys, sample design, data assembling, variables/measure of identification, bias/pre-testing has been included to support the claims made in the paper. Results: The firms operating in the manufacturing of Indonesia are chosen as the sample of the study. Employing the survey-based methodology, the SEM-PLS technique is used to test the hypothesized relationships. So, the current study has used SEM-PLS as a statistical tool to answer the research questions raised in this study and research objectives envisaged in the current study. The findings of the study have provided support to the theoretical foundation and proposed hypothesis of the current study. Current study will be helpful for policymakers and practitioners in understanding the issues related to supply chain risk, supply chain integration and supply chain performance. In the author's knowledge this is among very few pioneering studies on this issue.

International Healthcare and Women: The Roles and Challenges of Women in Sustainable Humanitarian Outreach

Program Description: Humanitarian aid offers human, technological, and financial resources to vulnerable people throughout the world. As health care providers, we strive to provide not only quality medical care, but to establish sustainable programs through our global outreach endeavors. Equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities. Women are at the heart of many community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of disease, and increase access to medical care. This miniseminar focuses on the role of women in the international community as otolaryngologists, educators, community leaders, and patients. Panelists will discuss the challenges, both locally and abroad, facing women in promoting and administering outreach in developing nations. The importance of empowering women around the world by providing support through resources and education will be explored. Successful outreach missions and partnership programs will be presented to highlight the significance of establishing lasting access to health care through education. Panelists will relate their experiences from disparate areas of the world: the Middle East, Haiti, Africa, India, and Central America. Introduction by AAO-HNS President J. Regan Thomas, MD. Sonya Malekzadeh, MD, and Gregory W. Randolph, MD, will moderate the session which will include four panelists. Educational Objectives: 1) Comprehend the challenges of women physicians providing sustainable humanitarian aid. 2) Appreciate what it means to be a woman patient in a developing country. 3) Understand the relationship between a US program and a developing country educational program.

The Enhancement of Sustainable Humanitarian Mind Model by UKM Lestari Program

A variety of opinions and understanding of the term has been used to provide vision on the need to produce the best individuals and of quality from the current education system. Sustainable humanitarian mind in this paper refers to individuals who have a high quality not only in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, personality and enthusiasm but also those who are highly concern and aware to keep the needs of future generations by considering the environmental protection. Education provided is not the end of the graduation process, but what is more important is their appreciation of the teaching and learning acquired. Change of mind to sustainable mindset not only through the process of teaching and learning in the classroom, but to include outdoor activities associated with our daily lives. This paper discusses the efforts conducted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) level to implement UKM Lestari Program with the goal to achieve zero waste campus. Recycling program has more effective by working with Alam Flora Sdn. Bhd. The average percentage of recycling that are listed at 1.62%, gives an overview of the UKM community concerns related to the environment, is still at the low level. Students involvement in co-curricular activities of the environment and the activities of voluntary environmental are expected to be able to instill love for their environment among the students and the UKM community. The ability to generate sustainable humanitarian mind requires continuous, orderly, and comprehensive, involving all parties with a purpose and level of prosperity for all and future generations.