Decision support framework for facility location and demand planning for humanitarian logistics

This research purpose is to develop a decision-making mechanism capable of enhancing SADC effectiveness and efficiency during regional relief operations. The research was conducted in three phases: phase 1 with the aim of exploring SADC relief supply operations readiness, their available infrastructures as well as the existing coordination between relief agencies and other relevant parties. Phase 2 aims at enhancing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the SADC regional decision-making mechanism during relief operations. Phase 3 finally optimizes the pre-positioned relief supplies and demands in facility locations across SADC by dealing with two key decision factors affecting the region namely the time and the cost. Using a Multi-Criteria decision Making (MCDM) based on its Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach, the results, under certain assumptions, yielded an insignificant cost-saving between air transportation and marine transportation. However, applying the decision-making scenarios in an Excel linear optimization model, the study has revealed that by increasing the number of cities or countries involved in a particular humanitarian operation, decreases the overall logistical costs including transportation, prepositioned storage, etc. The proposed methodology provides a detailed decision support framework for humanitarian organizations operating in the region. The model adds important value to the literature as the proposed problem has no solution in the literature before.