Supply chain risk management for humanitarian aid delivery: risk identification and contingency analysis

Purpose: Humanitarian organizations are responsible for delivering aid under diverse circumstances in various contexts. We argue that humanitarian organizations face specific challenges in their logistics and operations. Thus, adequate supply chain risk management is required to facilitate effective and efficient humanitarian aid delivery. 

Design/methodology/approach: We first identify potential supply chain risks in humanitarian aid delivery from the literature. We then utilize an expert survey to determine the probability and impact ratings of the identified risks, assessing the importance of six aggregated risk categories. To examine the influence of contingencies on a country, organization, and crisis level, we investigate the effect of ten contextual factors on the importance of different supply chain risks in humanitarian aid delivery. 

Findings: We derive six relevant risk categories for humanitarian aid delivery and develop five propositions concerning criticality, context-sensitivity, relevant contingencies, and risk management approaches. Findings and propositions encourage and guide future research on the topic. 

Practical implications: Risk identification and assessment support mission-specific decision-making. Our findings encourage and foster organizational learning between missions. A differentiated view of risk types allows for stronger inter-organizational collaboration within the sector and beyond. 

Originality/value: This study is among the first to derive supply chain risks and categories specific to humanitarian aid delivery. Contingency analysis on a country, organization, and crisis level offers unique insights into risk management in humanitarian aid delivery.