Impact of Supply Chain Management Challenges on Humanitarian Organizations in Kenya

Abstract

Supply chain challenges worsen humanitarian situations creating a lot of uncertainty among humanitarian organizations. This study was carried out to ascertain the impact of supply chain management challenges facing humanitarian organizations in Kenya. The study had two objectives: To establish the challenges facing humanitarian supply chain management in Kenya and to determine the effects of supply chain challenges on performance of humanitarian organizations in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design where a sample survey of 40 humanitarian organizations was conducted. Data was successfully collected from 40 supply chain managers, analyzed using SPSS and presented using frequencies, percentages and mean scores in the form of tables and graphs. Factor analysis was also conducted in order to establish the main challenges facing humanitarian supply chain management in Kenya. The findings of the study indicate that the main challenges facing humanitarian supply chain management are: lack of recognition of the role of supply chain management in humanitarian operations; delays in humanitarian operations due to domestic barriers; demand uncertainty; challenges in accessing affected population due to inadequate transportation modes; high costs inhibiting accessibility of the affected areas and inability to anticipate disaster. The effects of supply chain challenges on performance of humanitarian organizations are: delay in the delivery of the right products, poor information integration, and uncertainty in demand among others. The study encountered limitations such as inadequate time and finances to hire the personnel for collecting data as well as delays by respondents putting pressure on the time allocated for completing the project.