Humanitarian supply chains have to be deployed because the damages caused by crisis are often beyond the coping capacity of the affected communities, and national or international aid is required to mitigate the impacts. The main research question of this program is “how to analyze imperfect information to support decision making in humanitarian supply chains?”. To answer this question, we design and implement methodological frameworks combining data analytics and optimization, which are validated through real-life applications.

The research program focuses on three important classes of humanitarian supply chains: 1) preparedness prepositioning networks, 2) food aid supply chains, and 3) healthcare and emergency networks. For addressing context-specific problems related to this three classes of supply chains, the research program aims to adopt an integrated perspective between the shorter-term humanitarian operations and longer-term sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. In particular, the projects work toward addressing, both directly and indirectly, the following SDGS: Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG13), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

1. Preparedness prepositioning networks (SDG 11, SDG 13, and SDG 17)

Prepositioning is a widely applied disaster preparedness strategy, where reserves of relief items are stored at strategic locations for rapid response when needed. Reducing prepositioning costs and increase effectiveness are important challenges for practitioners and researchers.

Logistics service network design for humanitarian response in East Africa

We analyzed the potential cost savings of adding a regional depot in Kampala to logistics network of the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot used to respond to humanitarian crises in East Africa (Dufour et al. 2018).

Collaborative prepositioning network design for regional disaster preparedness in the Caribbean

We worked with the inter­governmental Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to strengthen regional disaster preparedness (Balcik et al., 2019; Rodriguez-Pereira et al., 2021). We proposed an insurance­based method to determine the locations and levels of stockpiles as well as the investment to be made by every partner. We showed that significant cost savings can be achieved through such collaborative mechanism.

2. Food aid supply chains (SDG 2 and SDG 3)

Hunger and malnutrition pose the largest risks to worldwide health. Not only developing countries suffer from food insecurity, but developed countries have the capacity to cope with this issue without external support. Organizations implementing hunger­alleviation programs can distribute food commodities directly (in­kind), or provide cash or vouchers to the beneficiaries.

References

B. Balcik, S. Silvestri, M.-È. Rancourt and G. Laporte (2019). Collaborative prepositioning network design for re- gional disaster response. Production and Operations Management, 28(10) : 2431–2455. doi: 10.1111/poms.13053.

É. Dufour, G. Laporte, J. Paquette and M.-È. Rancourt (2017). Logistics service network design for humanitarian response in East Africa. Omega, 74 : 1–14. doi: 10.1016/j.omega.2017.01.002.

J. Rodriguez-Pereira, B. Balcik, M.-È. Rancourt and G. Laporte (2021). A cost-sharing mechanism for multi- country partnerships in disaster preparedness. Production and Operations Management, 30(12) : 4541–4565. doi: 10.1111/poms.13403.