Action steps for African Business Schools
2011-05-24 13:56:36 UTC
Case Study: Genetically modified food donations and the cost of neutrality: logistics response to the 2002 food crisis in Southern Africa
Title
Genetically modified food donations and the cost of neutrality: logistics response to the 2002 food crisis in Southern Africa
Author
Van Wassenhove, L; Tomasini, R
Pages
19
Product Type
Reference #
604-024-1
Teaching Note
604-024-8
Institute
Setting
Africa
Year
2004
Keywords
Humanitarian operations; Genetically modified organisms (GMO); World Food Programme (WFP); Supply chain logistics; Ethical donations; Food aid rejection; SUMA; Food distribution
Summary/
Abstract
Abstract
Set during the 2002 Southern Africa food crisis the case describes the design and implementation of a humanitarian logistics operation for the distribution of food donations in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This complex operation affected by severe drougths, economic downturn, poor access to recipients and the HIV pandemic, takes an unexpected turn when Zambia rejects the donations upon finding traces of genetically modified organisms (GMO). This forces agencies to redesign their assistance strategy and challenges the ongoing plans with new bottlenecks, costs, and delays. In the end the operations suceeds in light of the co-ordination support provided by the implementing agency, World Food Programme (WFP). The case aims to: (1) discuss the differences between supply chain management in for-profit and humanitarian organisations, and more specifically, the need for agility in supply chain management; (2) analyse the concept of humanitarian space and principles, ie the difficult balancing acts to accomplish a mission while constantly interacting with governments and private sectors; and (3) unravel the ethical issues involved in distributing or offering genetically modified food.
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