Field vehicle fleet management in humanitarian operations: A case‐based approach

TLDR

Transportation is the second largest overhead cost to humanitarian organizations after personnel, yet academic knowledge about fleet management in humanitarian operations remains scarce. The study investigates how four major IHOs manage field vehicle fleets, identifies critical factors influencing their management, and examines the impact of Field VFM on in‑country program delivery. The authors employed a multiple‑case design, conducting over 40 interviews across headquarters, regional and national offices in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The research fills a gap in humanitarian literature on Field VFM and extends fleet‑management theory to a previously unexplored domain.

Abstract

Abstract Transportation is the second largest overhead cost to humanitarian organizations after personnel. Academic knowledge about fleet management in humanitarian operations is scarce. Using a multiple case research design we study Field Vehicle Fleet Management (Field VFM) in four large International Humanitarian Organizations (IHO): the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Food Program and World Vision International. Our field research includes more than 40 interviews at headquarters, regional and national level in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The paper answers three research questions: (1) How do IHO manage their field vehicle fleets? (2) What are the critical factors affecting IHO Field VFM? (3) How does Field VFM affect in‐country program delivery? The contribution of this research is twofold. First, it helps to fill the existing gap in the humanitarian literature regarding Field VFM. Second, it expands the fleet management literature to a new and virtually unexplored area.