Novel Approaches to Humanitarian Logistics: Transforming the Landscape of the Supply Chain

18/11/2016

Failed supply chains open the door to disaster for relief efforts. The backbone of all aid operations, international supply chains present many challenges. As demand for humanitarian assistance rises, the sector’s dependence on complex supply chains falters on sudden and unpredictable spikes in demand, hard-to-reach locations, disruptions caused by conflict, leakage, spoilage and other commonplace losses. There are new high- and low-tech applications that can reduce reliance on burdensome supply chains. These can provide tailored products while empowering affected populations and dramatically altering the practice – and increasing the success – of humanitarian response.