Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD)

Project: Executive Supply Chain Management in the Humanitarian Context (ESM)

The growing interconnectedness in today’s world combined with accelerating change processes have created a dynamic and complex environment which places immense demands on organizations operating in the humanitarian space. In this context, supply chain management is increasingly recognized as critical success factor for short term aid deliveries as well as long term development programs.
CHORD has established a 4-day executive program for leaders and senior managers of humanitarian organizations and government agencies. The course builds competency and knowledge to tap into the enormous potential that supply chains offer to organizations and the entire sector to ultimately do more with less.
Participants are challenged to think strategically and out of the box across sectors and in different operational contexts. By the end of this program participants are equipped with an extensive skill and tool set provided by experts with commercial and humanitarian experience combined with the best academic knowledge this field has to offer.
The ESM is offered at KLU in Hamburg as well as in the regions (Asia, Middle East, East Africa and West Africa) in close collaboration with local universities.
For further information, please reach out to: jonas.stumpf@kuehne-stiftung.org

The State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context 2023 (March 2024)

In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, supply chain dynamics within the humanitarian context are more impactful than ever. Humanitarian supply chains are pivotal for delivering vital aid to those impacted by crises. During 2023, these supply chains navigated a labyrinth of challenges spurred by an array of global crises, including the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza war, and natural disasters like the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, and Afghanistan. Against a backdrop of crises, global surveys led by CHORD, Kühne Logistics University, and HELP Logistics have gathered over 2,300 responses since 2021 to uncover practices and challenges faced by those at the forefront of the humanitarian supply chain. The “State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context 2023” report captures a year of significant progress and challenges. Thought leaders representing different stakeholders in the humanitarian sector were invited to revise the survey questions to maximize their relevance for decision-making. After gathering input from thought leaders, the revised global survey was launched in 2023 and collected 341 responses from individuals working in humanitarian supply chains around the world, capturing mainly the views of those in field and country offices.
The report provides an overview of the sector’s achievements and the hurdles that lie ahead, setting the stage for a detailed discussion on advancing humanitarian supply chains in the face of an increasingly complex global landscape. Key findings of 2023 emphasize a sector in transition, marked by an increased commitment to localization and environmental sustainability and a cautious yet growing adoption of IT systems, affirming the positive trends of the past years. While these highlights mark significant progress, coordination challenges within and between humanitarian actors, as well as the need for better supply chain preparedness, are still important issues that require attention. These insights not only reflect the sector’s current state but also guide us towards actionable strategies for enhancing supply chain impact in humanitarian operations. The upcoming sections delve deeper into these insights. Link to the report.
For further information, please reach out to: mojtaba.salem@klu.org and carolin.winter@klu.org

The State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context 2021-22 (September 2023)

Humanitarian supply chains are essential for delivering life-saving aid to people affected by crises. However, these supply chains encountered numerous challenges in the complex and ever-changing environment between 2021 and 2022. They navigated ongoing crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises. They responded to new emergencies like the Ukraine and Afghanistan wars, the Northern Ethiopia conflict, and natural disasters such as the flooding in Pakistan. This report addresses how decision-makers in the humanitarian sector could effectively plan and manage their supply chains during this period and the critical trends in supply chain management. The Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD), supported by the Kühne Logistics University and HELP Logistics, presents findings on the State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context for 2021-22. These findings are derived from four bi-annual surveys, which garnered over 2,000 responses from individuals who experienced various operational challenges and opportunities related to humanitarian supply chains during this period. Most of these individuals were national staff primarily affiliated with non governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations (UN) agencies, and public and private sector entities involved in humanitarian operations worldwide.
This report adopts a holistic perspective to underscore the pivotal role of the supply chain in delivering aid, identifying areas for improvement alongside evidence based recommendations to assist decision-makers in implementing changes. Given the rapidly evolving and unpredictable humanitarian landscape, these recommendations are crucial for addressing current challenges and anticipating future ones. We, therefore, encourage individuals engaged in humanitarian supply chains to provide feedback on these recommendations and actively participate in the upcoming 2023 global survey that will delve deeper into the implications of these findings. Link to the report.
For further information, please reach out to: jonas.stumpf@kuehne-stiftung.org

The State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context (March 2022)

The Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD), supported by the Kühne Logistics University and HELP Logistics, presents the first edition of The State of Logistics and Supply Chain in the Humanitarian Context. This baseline report provides insights and opinions based on 532 experts from humanitarian organisations, government and commercial companies across different geographic regions. The respondents also represent different organisational levels, such as field, country, regional offices, and headquarters. With a representation of 78%, the survey gives local staff a strong voice and provides exciting insights into local trends and perspectives. The report findings cover the period from January to July 2021. The respondents assessed how much costs and lead times in humanitarian supply chains changed compared to the beginning of 2021. Moreover, respondents shared their opinions about the importance of specific preparedness strategies and future supply chain risks. Ultimately, respondents shed light on key trends and practical measures within their respective organisations over the first half of 2021 regarding emerging issues such as environmental sustainability, localisation, the interconnectedness of supply networks, and innovation. Link to the report.
For further information, please reach out to: jonas.stumpf@kuehne-stiftung.org
 

Further Links

Research Institute on Leadership and Operations in Humanitarian Aid 
KLU Executive Education

Project: COVID19 Survey 

The Global Logistics Cluster (GLC) and CHORD performed three global surveys to understand the dynamic impact of the pandemic on humanitarian supply chains. 150 survey responses from 40 different humanitarian actors around the globe were received. The analysis provided insights into the patterns of problems, such as changes in price levels, delivery delays of humanitarian supplies, as well as upstream and in-country cargo transport challenges. 80% of the respondents indicated a need for access to online trainings to rapidly build-up medical logistics capacity.  

Project partner: Global Logistics Cluster (GLC)

“The surveys performed together with HELP Logistics and the KLU were great examples of where swift and applicable academic work contributes to fast-moving humanitarian operational decision-making.” Bruno Vandemeulebroecke Deputy Coordinator, Global Logistics Cluster

Project: Medical Logistics in Pandemics (MLP) Training

A major root cause for inefficiencies, losses and waste in medical supply chains is simply insufficient knowledge. The MLP training aims to equip aid workers and health staff with the most essential logistics and supply chain knowledge in the context of medical operations. Special focus is put the current response to COVID-19 making sure that the right product and service reaches the patients at the right time, at the right condition and at the right price. The course is a fully blended learning experience that includes self-studying online lectures, challenging quizzes as well as interactive live sessions in a virtual classroom environment. 
For further information please reach out to: jonas.stumpf@kuehne-stiftung.org

“For UNFPA this training has really big impact that we can already see on the ground. We have plans to scale it up significantly in the near future” - Ms. Dani Jurman Humanitarian Supplies Analyst, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Project: Orchestrating Coordination among Humanitarian Organizations

The study ”Orchestrating coordination among humanitarian organizations”(a joint project with Ruesch, L., Tarakci, M., Besiou, M., and Van Quaquebke, N.) investigates coordination in United Nations’ cluster meetings. In cluster meetings humanitarian organizations meet to exchange resources. Yet, coordination failures in prior disasters led by the clusters raise questions as to the effectiveness of the cluster approach in coordinating relief efforts. To better understand barriers to coordination, we conducted 21 expert interviews and built an agent-based simulation. 
Our theory discerns a cluster lead’s roles of facilitating coordination but also investing in its own ground operations. We find that specifically serving such a dual role impairs trust and consequent coordination among cluster members. The additional simulation findings generalize the detrimental effect of the cluster lead’s dual role versus a pure facilitator role and specifies it against various boundary conditions. 
For further information, please reach out to: lea.ruesch@klu.org