Critical success factors in the context of humanitarian aid supply chains

Purpose Critical success factors (CSFs) have been widely used in the context of commercial supply chains. However, in the context of humanitarian aid (HA) this is a poorly addressed area and this paper therefore aims to set out the key areas for research. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a conceptual discussion of CSFs as applied to the HA sector. A detailed literature review is undertaken to identify CSFs in a commercial context and to consider their applicability to the HA sector. Findings CSFs have not previously been identified for the HA sector, an issue addressed in this paper. Research limitations/implications The main constraint on this paper is that CSFs have not been previously considered in the literature as applied to HA. The relevance of CSFs will therefore need to be tested in the HA environment and qualitative research is needed to inform further work. Practical implications This paper informs the HA community of key areas of activity which have not been fully addressed and offers. Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of supply chain management in an HA context.