A community-based approach to supply chain design

Abstract

The role of beneficiaries in the humanitarian supply chain is highlighted in the imperative to meet their needs but disputed in terms of their actual decision-making and purchasing power. This paper discusses the use of a beneficiary-focused, community-based approach in the case of a post-crisis housing reconstruction programme. In the community-based approach, beneficiaries become active members of the humanitarian supply chain. Implications of this community-based approach are discussed in the light of supply chain design and aid effectiveness.

Keywords:

• humanitarian supply chain
• reconstruction
• community-based approach
• supply chain design
• aid effectiveness

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the European Agency for Reconstruction for access to their data and their kind support.