SUPPLY CHAIN RESPONSIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE OF HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATIONS IN KENYA

Abstract

Humanitarian organizations are struggling to obtain the highest possible performance from their supply chains by utilizing and adopting various supply chain designs. This is upon realization that despite the huge chunks of money pumped into humanitarian sector, stringent oversight by donors and expectations from vulnerable populations, humanitarian supply chains still respond in a sluggish, inefficient and poorly coordinated manner to emergencies. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of supply chain responsiveness on performance of humanitarian aid organizations in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Decoupling Point theory and employed survey research design. The study entailed a census survey of all the 330 humanitarian aid organizations carrying out their operations in Kenya with supply chain managers as the unit of observation. Objectively developed questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics was used aided by SPSS version 24 to facilitate data analysis. Inferential data analysis was done using Pearson Correlation Coefficient and regression analysis. The data was presented using a combination of statistical and graphical techniques. The study findings revealed that supply chain responsiveness had a positive significant influence on performance of humanitarian aid organizations in Kenya. The findings of the study revealed that humanitarian aid organizations in Kenya have supply chains designed to be responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations. The humanitarian supply chains are designed to evaluate, consider and cover needs of vulnerable people quickly while enabling a view of the movements of materials along the supply chains. However, the ability of humanitarian supply chains to respond quickly to emergencies and disasters is a challenging task influenced by various challenges facing humanitarian supply chains. This means that despite the supply chains being designed to be responsive to emergencies, there is still an element of sluggishness in most humanitarian supply chains in Kenya resultant from the challenges faced. To achieve and sustain a supply chain that is responsive to the changing needs and volatile environment, the study recommends the need for organizations to design and implement a supply chain that incorporates lean and agility operation across the value chain. The study established that the culture of disaster preparedness in Kenya is lacking despite the increasing resource allocations for the same. Further, the supply chain professionals should establish strategic collaborative working partnerships and agreements with industry players, experts and all other humanitarian supply chain actors to allow expertise and near precision responsiveness to needs of vulnerable people.