Vehicle Supply Chains in Humanitarian Operations: Decentralization, Operational Mix, and Earmarked Funding

TLDR

Humanitarian organizations operate in remote, decentralized settings, running both development and disaster response programs that are largely funded by earmarked donations. The study aims to analyze how earmarked funding affects vehicle supply chains across the three IHO structures in decentralized humanitarian operations. Using qualitative and quantitative data and system dynamics modeling, the authors simulate vehicle supply chains for the three IHO structures in decentralized settings. The model shows that earmarked funding negatively impacts operational performance of disaster response programs in decentralized contexts.

Abstract

The work of international humanitarian organizations (IHOs) frequently involves operating in remote locations, decentralized decision‐making, and the simultaneous implementation of development and disaster response programs. A large proportion of this work is funded by “earmarked” donations, since donors often exhibit a preference for the programs they are willing to fund. From extensive research involving qualitative descriptions and quantitative data, and applying system dynamics methodology, we model vehicle supply chains (VSCs) in support of humanitarian field operations. Our efforts encompass the often‐overlooked decentralized environment by incorporating the three different VSC structures that IHOs operate, as well as examining the entire mix of development and disaster response programs, and the specific (and virtually unexplored) effects of earmarked funding. Our results suggest that earmarked funding causes a real—and negative—operational impact on humanitarian disaster response programs in a decentralized setting.