Contents -- Figures and tables -- Contributors -- Introduction -- Managing supply networks under conditions of uncertainty -- Lessons from best practice -- The way forward -- A final thought -- Notes -- 01 Risky business: what humanitarians can learn from business logisticians - and vice versa -- Abstract -- Introduction -- A brief review of recent literature -- The players and the stage -- Supply chain risk management in the humanitarian world -- Conclusion -- References -- Acknowledgements -- 02 Impacts of funding systems on humanitarian operations -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Structure of funding systems -- Impacts of financial flows on disaster response -- Incentives provided by donors -- Summary and recommendations -- References -- Acknowledgement -- 03 The importance of information technology in humanitarian supply chains: opportunities and challenges in the Helios project -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The relevance of supply chain information -- Some recent history -- The Helios initiative -- A brief overview of the ILPPM journey -- Reflections on the ILPPM project -- Further growth: inter-agency efforts -- Concluding remarks -- References -- 04 Humanitarian logistics metrics: where we are and how we might improve -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Humanitarian logistics -- Performance measurement in commercial supply networks -- Performance measurement in not-for-profit supply networks -- Academic perspectives -- Practitioner perspectives -- The recipient's perspective -- Conclusion -- References -- Notes -- 05 Humanitarian logistics and the cluster approach: global shifts and the US perspective -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Background -- Change afoot - the cluster approach and implications for humanitarian logistics -- Business as usual or… ? -- US perspectives on humanitarian logistics, the CA and the LC -- Conclusion -- References.

Notes -- 06 The 2004 Thailand tsunami reviewed: lessons learned -- Abstract -- Introduction -- What happened on 26 December 2004? -- Hazard event response in Thailand -- Reflections and lessons to be learned -- Conclusions -- References -- Notes -- 07 The journey to humanitarian supply network management: an African perspective -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Types of disaster -- The nature and incidence of disasters in Africa -- Disasters and sustainable development in Africa -- The scope and role of humanitarian logistics -- Unpredictable demand and supply -- Efficiency of disaster response -- Critical success factors in the context of humanitarian aid supply chains -- Disaster risk management and contingency planning in Africa -- Institutional frameworks and policies -- Multiplicity of actors: the critical roles of inter-agency communication, collaboration and coordination -- The role of technology in humanitarian logistics in Africa -- Human capacity building for disaster risk management in Africa -- Challenges of humanitarian logistics in Africa -- Conclusion -- References -- 08 Humanitarian logistics in the United States: supply chain systems for responding to domestic disasters -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Overview of US emergency response -- Florida division of emergency management -- Supply chain strategies -- Conclusions -- References -- Notes -- Acknowledgements -- 09 The supply network's role as an enabler of development -- Abstract -- Introduction -- 1 Improving access to essential medicine -- 2 Reliable supply links and economic development -- A final word - the supply chain as an enabler -- References -- Notes -- 10 Humanitarian logistics professionalism -- Abstract -- Context and background -- Understanding logistics: commercial best practice -- supply chain management as the evolutionary development of logistics.

Further application of supply chain management: military adaptation - the use of commercial best practice in the defence logistics environment -- Humanitarian logistics: an opportunity to develop and adapt commercial and military approaches -- Challenges of, and for, humanitarian logistics -- Gaining knowledge: the basis of professionalism in humanitarian logistics -- Professionalism - the response for, and of, humanitarian logistics -- Summary -- Conclusion -- References -- 11 Humanitarian logistics: a cultural perspective -- Abstract -- Hierarchy of needs -- Sourcing humanitarian aid -- Transporting humanitarian aid -- Distributing humanitarian aid -- The importance of local knowledge -- References -- 12 The impossible interface? Combining humanitarian logistics and military supply capabilities -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Humanitarian and military logistics -- Humanitarian principles and ideology -- A strategic-level decision -- The joint logistics and supply chain interface: function defines form? -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- 13 Disaster agencies and military forces: not such strange bedfellows after all! -- Abstract -- Introduction -- From cold to hot wars: the growth in humanitarian operations/complex emergencies -- The turning point -- The players and their roles -- The good, the bad and the ugly -- Accept these realities - and move on -- There is more to this than war-fighting and military victories -- Both sides need each other -- So, what? The need for a widely understood doctrine -- The example of logistic supply chains -- The time for change is now -- 14 So where next? Developments in humanitarian logistics -- Abstract -- Introduction -- From inter-agency coordination to relationship building in the supply chain -- Technology development and the pragmatism of humanitarian operations research (OR).

Questioning disaster taxonomies and the humanitarian-development divide -- Units of analysis - taking the strategic view -- Addressing sustainability -- Concluding remarks -- References -- Notes -- Index.