Brief description
Given the number of disasters such as famine, earthquakes and floods in our world, there is a need for well-executed humanitarian aid. Yet, aid organizations continue to face many problems during their operations. While the field of humanitarian aid has traditionally been looked at from an operational angle this research project, financed by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, seeks to advance behavioral insights in the respective dynamics of the execution by leaders to better understand the organizational dynamics such as teamwork and communication in order to make humanitarian aid more effective.
Project purpose
Practitioner reports suggest that aid organizations continue to face many problems during their operations despite available financial and human resources. While the field of humanitarian aid has traditionally been looked at from an operational angle to address the respective challenges this research project seeks to advance behavioral insights in the respective dynamics of the execution by leaders. As such, the research focuses on leaders and the role they play for 1) effective collaboration between local and expatriate humanitarian staff, 2) effective use of local knowledge, skills, and abilities, and 3) effective trust-building between field offices and headquarters. To this end, three empirical study areas examine categories of mediation and moderation factors that can tie well-established organizational leadership theories to central humanitarian operation outcomes.The project seeks to draw actionable recommendations for humanitarian practice but also help the respective research mature beyond the immediate focus on finances and logistics.
Subjects
Humanitarian Logistics, Leadership, Creating Value
Project partners
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Kühne Logistics University (KLU)
Project Web link
Research Institute on Leadership and Operations in Humanitarian Aid (RILOHA)
