From coordination to implementation: Challenges of international humanitarian aid in natural disasters — A systematic review

This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the challenges affecting effective international humanitarian action in natural disaster contexts. Following PRISMA guidelines, 37 studies were included and analyzed. Thematic analysis identified six interconnected dimensions of humanitarian challenges: (1) systemic and governance challenges, including politicized aid structures, weak institutional capacity, localization barriers, and power imbalances; (2) resource and operational inefficiencies, including funding limitations and logistical constraints; (3) coordination and collaboration failures among humanitarian actors; (4) community and equity-related challenges, including social exclusion and limited participation of affected populations; (5) human capital and ethical challenges, including limited professionalization and accountability concerns; and (6) sustainability and adaptive learning gaps related to long-term recovery and organizational learning. The findings indicate that these challenges are interconnected across institutional, operational, and community levels, limiting the effectiveness and sustainability of humanitarian responses. This review highlights the need for more integrated and adaptive approaches, including strengthened localization, improved coordination mechanisms, resilience-oriented funding strategies, and investments in professional capacity and learning systems to support more effective humanitarian action.