Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics Research - VA Conceptualization

Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics Research - vA Conceptualization

Matthias Klumpp

Abstract Sustainability in its long-term perspective is agreeably sometimes hard to imagine and implement in short-lived crisis situations. But nevertheless, the future demand regarding research as well as practical implementation for sustainability principles in humanitarian logistics is huge. This chapter therefore provides a basic definition drawn from existing sources as well as a draft structure with interesting research questions for this new field of sustainability in humanitarian supply chains. Furthermore, limitations as well as a case study regarding Syria as a large and longlasting humanitarian crisis are outlined. For the case a new principle in international aid and political answers is suggested as one possible input from research regarding sustainability principles in humanitarian situations.

M. Klumpp (&)
Institute for Logistics and Service Management, FOM University of Applied Sciences,
Essen, Germany
e-mail: matthias.klumpp@fom-ild.de
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
M. Klumpp et al. (eds.), Humanitarian Logistics and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Logistics,

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15455-8_4

Introduction

Research in humanitarian logistics has been driven by two main thrusts in the past,
(i) the urge for operational optimization in order “to save lives and alleviate suffering”
and (ii) the comparison and adaption towards as well as from commercial
logistics. Examples for the first strive are e.g. research publication such as Falasca
and Zobel (2012) regarding personnel planning and optimization, Balcik et al.
(2010) discussing the optimization of operational coordination among actors,
Martinez et al. (2011) regarding fleet management improvements, Holguín-Veras
et al. (2012b) informing about alternative logistics concepts in crisis situations as
well as Liberatore et al. (2014) describing the optimization of good distribution
schemes in emergency situations. Research publications addressing the second
basic approach comparing to commercial logistics are i.e. Bagchi et al. (2011)
regarding the application of game theory towards humanitarian procurement processes,
Li et al. (2013) discussing the application of open source software development in humanitarian logistics, Heaslip et al. (2012) explaining the possible transfer potential from military logistics systems, Yang et al. (2011) describing the
use of RFID systems in disaster situations and also Fadiya et al. (2014) providing
details regarding the use of bi date in humanitarian logistics.

Altogether, these endeavors have led to a situation, where long-term and
therefore sustainable thinking and concepts within humanitarian logistics are on
many accounts absent. And the few exceptions are not known and numerous
enough to establish a further research alley for an active interaction of research and
practical implementation in humanitarian organizations. This contribution—as well
as the whole book—aims for a solution to this problem by outlining some basic
thoughts about long-term and sustainable research in humanitarian logistics.
A basic concept approach regarding research for sustainability in humanitarian
logistics would have to touch the following “bases” as outlined in this chapter:
First, the definitions and concepts of the involved word have to be outlined, namely
“logistics”, “sustainability” and “humanitarian”—which is described in this section.
Second, one may think about possible concepts and research streams and questions
in order to integrate different actions according to an overarching framework for
sustainable humanitarian logistics research (Sect. 4.2). Third, limitations and borders
for research regarding sustainable humanitarian logistics may be relevant as
outlined in Sect. 4.3. A holistic case analysis may complement these conceptualization
efforts, herewith exemplified with the Syrian humanitarian crisis and “sustainability
options” (Sect. 4.4). Finally, an outlook regarding further research
endeavors regarding this question is added in Sect. 4.5.

Regarding a definition of sustainability the commonly used description is the
basic explanation from the Brundlandt Report: “Sustainable development is
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts:
(a) the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor,
to which overriding priority should be given; and (b) the idea of limitations imposed
by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to
meet present and future needs” (WCED 1987: 43).

In terms of a definition of logistics it can be referred to the US council of supply
chain professionals (CSCP): “Logistics is that part of the supply chain process that
plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and
storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and
the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements” (CSCP 2013).
Regarding a definition of humanitarian things are less clear and a byline
explanation has to be used e.g. by the UN Charta of Human Rights (Article 25):
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing
of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical
care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in
circumstances beyond his control” (UN 2013).

To outline a little bit more in detail the ambiguous question of humanitarian
actions, a reference can be taken to the example of the UN OCHA objective system,
outlining the overall setup and corridors of global humanitarian management support
(Fig. 4.1). The concept is construed by the three basic goals “A more enabling
environment for humanitarian action (1)”, “A more effective humanitarian coordination
system (2)”, “Strengthened OCHA management and administration (3)”.

An interesting example from the further detailed objectives in connection with
the concept of sustainable humanitarian logistics may be No 1.4 “Humanitarian
response and response preparedness are underpinned by integrated analysis and
rigorous learning”. This indicates that improvements and long-term perspectives are
important for such a concept—which in itself would lead to a sustainable approach
by improvements and long-term developments in order to safeguard quality and
efficiency at the same time, leading to less resource consumption as well as a
positive development of several aspects of human life and social interaction.
From these background definitions and concepts a general definition for sustainable
humanitarian logistics may be proposed to guide research endeavors and connect
research question in this field among themselves and with other research fields.
Sustainable humanitarian logistics has the objective to assure every human
being—especially in situations of disasters and emergencies—a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food,
clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services by planning,
implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and

4 Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics Research … 51
storage of goods, services and related information throughout the whole supply
chain in a manner that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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