Lead Time in Humanitarian Logistics Preparedness Decisions Based on Climate Forecasts

Purpose
Climate information is increasingly used to prepare for and increase the resilience to the natural hazards. However, adoption of climate forecast and its standard operating procedures for humanitarian logistics preparedness is limited. This paper aims to provide a deeper insight into the information flow, actions and decisions of humanitarian logistics preparedness based on climate forecasts.

Design/methodology/approach
Given that the available academic literature is scarce, the paper is based on organization reports and policy documents. A conventional content analysis is conducted to review and analyze the documents.

Findings
The process of humanitarian preparedness based on climate forecasts is mapped. A particular focus is placed on lead times for logistics preparedness decisions, and especially to distinguish two different interpretations of the term "lead time". Lead times are crucial in mobilizing disaster relief, concerning the mobilization of funding, the procurement and pre-positioning of items, setting up distribution systems, and deploying staffs and materials to potential disaster areas before infrastructure being destructed.

Research limitations/implications
The paper identifies the research gaps and provides a research agenda for further studies. Findings of the paper can be further crossed / validated with empirical data.

Original/value
The study helps humanitarian organizations better understand how to employ climate information more actively in humanitarian logistics preparedness by considering implications of lead time and subsequent effects on the potential risk mitigation.

Keywords: Humanitarian logistics, Logistics preparedness, Natural hazards, Climate forecasts, Disaster management.