Innovations in humanitarian supply chains: the case of cash transfer programmes

Abstract

Cash transfer programmes (CTPs) are revolutionizing humanitarian supply chains (HSCs), yet just how CTPs are to be understood as innovation, and how they impact on HSCs, remains unclear. Innovation in the humanitarian context more often than not stems from outside humanitarian organizations – that is innovation occurs in their supply chain. The aim of this study is to further the understanding of supply chain innovation (SCI) in the humanitarian context. Based on empirical evidence this article suggests a supply chain innovation model (SCIM). This SCIM is useful because it allows different processes to be understood and compared, by providing guidance on how innovations progress. The contribution of this research is threefold: First, the research presents a SCIM for the humanitarian context. Second, this is the first application of a SCIM to the humanitarian environment. Finally, the research is field based and grounded in empirical observations thus adding to the literature and offering insights to practice.     

人道主义干预:国际政治中的理想与现实

人道主义干预是国际政治中一个频繁出现的现象。人道主义干预以人权以及对人权的保护作为其伦理基础 ,但国际政治中现实的干预却更经常地表现出政治干预的特征 ,并由此而使人道主义干预超过其干预限度 ,异化为侵略乃至殖民化 ;同时 ,人道主义干预不仅引发了有关人权与主权关系的争论 ,它所产生的后果也往往与干预的理想目标相左。因此 ,干预还是不干预是国际政治中一个重要的伦理问题和现实问题     

必须重视和加强理工科大学生人文素质教育

理工科大学生的人文素质状况与新时期的人才要求不相适应 ,加强他们的人文素质教育迫在眉睫 ,具有十分重要而深远的意义。全面阐述当前应进一步重视和加强理工科大学生人文素质教育 ,并提出在实践中要注重向综合化方向发展 ,将第一课堂和第二课堂的素质教育有机结合起来。     

Media,migrants and human rights in the cultural history. Dialogue with Lynn Hunt

Lynn Hunt is an American historian and writer; she is Distinguished Research Professor at the University of California in Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.), and before coming to U.C.L.A., she taught at the University of Pennsylvania (1987–1998) and at the University of California, Berkeley (1974–1987). She is known for her studies in European Cultural History, and in 2007 she published the book Inventing Human Rights, where she examines the rise of the human rights in the eighteenth century.

We are specifically interested in her work because it gives us the chance to create a dialogue and disclose the moment we are living in comparing it with the cultural history and the role the media can have during a humanitarian crisis.

Therefore, we ask Lynn Hunt to explain how the exodus of migrants can be interpreted in light of the meta-narrative model, and to make clear what is and what will be the role of the cultural historians in offering us an interpretation of this historical moment. According to what the writer says in Writing History in the Global Era (2014), Hunt also deals with the importance of the relationship between means of communication, development of empathy and the emergence of human rights. For this reason, we asked the researcher, What is the role of the media today in mapping a humanitarian crisis?     

Applied ethics and allocation of foreign aid: disparity in pretensions and practice

We explore the applied ethics of development aid and humanitarian assistance, and juxtapose these with claimed objectives and factors that influence the choice of recipients. Despite some diversity among donors, ethical considerations appear not to be a prominent factor for allocation of aid. Although recipients’ need is not entirely ignored, donors’ self‐interest and herd behaviour, and recipients’ merits and voting in the United Nations, play crucial roles in allocation decisions. Likely to be shunned are complex emergencies and fragile states, the overlapping settings for action of development and humanitarian aid. Donors should take to heart and put into practice that allocation of aid is an ethical endeavour that should rest on proper needs assessment, established objectives and adopted agreements.     

满足生活需求的建筑功能多样化设计原则

针对单一、封闭的功能空间已不再能满足日益丰富的生活需求这一问题,本文通过对历史时期建筑功能概念的梳理以及相对应的设计手法的概括总结,分析"将建筑问题归结为设计问题"、"注重功能主义的建筑设计,忽略了使用者精神情感"等问题的思考。从生活美学的高度反思了建筑功能设计存在的问题,提出功能多样化设计目的是提升生活品质、改善空间体验;并进一步探讨具体的设计原则,最终落实到空间处理措施上,强调空间构成的多样化、空间布局的人性化、空间视觉的艺术化、空间体验的情感化和空间属性的自然化。     

莫言:与历史隔空对视 对苦难深情悲悯

近现代民族历史的文学叙事,往往受制于作家意识形态的制约,这种制约表现为作家对现实政治需要的应答,但莫言以超越阶级、党派的胸襟与视角,秉持悲悯精神与人道观念,在民族与阶级情感的纠结中,切入对人性与历史的考察,并通过文本重构桎梏中的历史叙事,还原历史现场应有的丰厚、复杂与模糊。其作品从民间获取话语资源,出离了高度组织化的历史形态,展现出一种富有时代精神的鲜活的历史观念。     

Vehicle Replacement in the International Committee of the Red Cross

This article studies 4 × 4 vehicle replacement within the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the largest humanitarian organizations. ICRC policy sets the replacement of vehicles at 5 years or 150,000 km, whichever comes first. Using field data collected at the ICRC headquarters and national level we study the ICRC policy. Our results suggest that the organization can make considerable savings by adjusting its replacement policy. This study contributes to the area of logistics and transportation research in humanitarian operations.     

With the Best of Intentions

Abstract

Charities and humanitarian organisations in Singapore that were involved in post-Tsunami relief and reconstruction work are repeatedly queried by volunteers, donors, and journalists. The world has pledged and donated billions to Tsunami relief and reconstruction, and I have personally given money to Singapore charities. Why do I still read about needy people in temporary shelters? Where has the money gone? Another question reflects similar sentiments of puzzlement, even frustration: I am moved by the devastation and would like to help by volunteering my time and expertise. I have signed up to volunteer with several humanitarian organisations. I am highly qualified and could help people. Why am I still not sent overseas?

These are good questions that deserve solid answers. This article discusses the latest thinking in relief circles as to which volunteers are best sent overseas and how donations can most responsibly be used for effective and sustainable reconstruction. The authors draw on Singapore's experience with providing relief in the aftermath of the Tsunami along with Dr. Tay Keong Tan's observations of relief and rehabilitation efforts in the Tsunami-affected areas of Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The article finds that volunteering requires much more than just a giving heart. Also, donations may be used most effectively by thinking long-term rather than just short-term. Further, donations are best administered in a way coordinated with local relief plans and in consultation with local people. The article closes by considering lessons for volunteers, donors, and humanitarian relief agencies from the Tsunami's aftermath.     

中国的法治思想的人文环境

经过二十多年的法制建设 ,我们的法治环境已取得了长足的发展和巨大的进步 ,但也有许多急需填补的空白 ,如法理念的确立、正义程序的确立。综观二十年来的法律理论与实践 ,我们深切地体会到 ,作为一个法治国家 ,法理念的确立与人文环境关系密切。在我们的法治发展进程中 ,我们迫切需要确立正义的法理念和在人文环境中对现实正义的真切体验。即如何从现实正义———具体正义———抽象正义的演绎中省悟正义这一法律价值目标 ,使正义复归人间 ;如何用现实正义的发展 ,促进具体正义的发展 ,从而完善抽象正义 ,将是我们长期必须完成的任务