The Role of Private Stakeholders in Disaster and Humanitarian Operations

Abstract

The role of private stakeholders in disaster operations goes far beyond the delivery of profits to its shareholders. Disasters and humanitarian operations literature acknowledges the importance of private sector in disaster lifecycle; however, it lacks an analysis of the risks and benefits of each different form of their engagement in such operations (contractual relationships, one-off relationships and CSR-Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships). To address this research gap, a literature review was conducted on papers covering the perspective of private stakeholders when engaging in disaster and humanitarian operations with stakeholders from public and social groups. The results revealed that some challenges are specific from one approach and others are common for all of them. Moreover, despite the increasing of reputation capital and organizational learning being used to motivate CSR approach, they are mentioned as benefits in approaches with lower engagement-contractual and one-off relationship approaches. Thus, the benefits and risks of each approach need to be carefully addressed by scholars and field professionals in order to seek better results from the engagement of private organizations.

Managing Relief Inventories Responding to Natural Disasters: Gaps Between Practice and Literature

“…Private Sectors. The engagement of private sectors in disaster relief operations has been highly emphasized in recent academics and practice (Fontainha et al 2016, Schenker-Wicki et al 2010, Van Wassenhove 2006, Vega and Roussat 2015. Holgu ın-Veras et al (2014) document the weak ties between the government and potential private sectors with various expertise.…”

“…The engagement of private sectors in disaster relief operations has been highly emphasized in recent academics and practice (Fontainha et al. 2016, Schenker‐Wicki et al. 2010, Van Wassenhove 2006, Vega and Roussat 2015).…”

“…Fontainha et al. (2016) identify three approaches that involve private sectors in humanitarian operations, which are contractual relationships, one‐off relationships, and CSR partnerships. Given various aspects of disaster uncertainties, to the best of our knowledge, relevant research up to date is insufficient and limited.…”

Goal programming optimization model under uncertainty and the critical areas characterization in humanitarian logistics management

“…The mitigation phase is focused on reducing the impact of a possible disaster. Some proposals are presented in order to lessen the negative impact on aid organizations (Fontainha et al, 2016), and other proposals aid emergency decision-making processes (Peres et al, 2012). The last phase, the preparedness phase, focuses on planning and preparing communities for a possible emergency or disaster through information dissemination and communication activities, the review of action plans, simulations, stakeholder meetings, etc.…”

“…The field of humanitarian logistics is wide (Apte, 2009), its main application is supply chain management (Christopher and Tatham, 2011). One of the models focused on the actors in the field of crisis management is the stakeholders' model (Fontainha et al, 2016;Ackermann and Eden, 2011), which shows interaction between private companies and the public sector and society as a whole, establishing a principal role for the state when disasters occur because of the fragility of the relations among all actors involved in the crisis situation. The flow of products and information is focused on the victims, and the flow of money comes second.…”