User:Mgosker/INSEAD Humanitarian Research Group

The INSEAD Humanitarian Research Group was created in 2001. Over the years the group developed the science of humanitarian logistics. The Humanitarian Research Group strives to increase the capacity of humanitarian actors to respond effectively to the growing number of major disasters impacting the world today by finding solutions to management challenges affecting humanitarian organisations. Facilitating cross-learning between those currently engaged in humanitarian action (humanitarian organisations, private sector companies, governments, donors, military etc.) the Humanitarian Research Group works to identify and transfer best practices from the humanitarian sector to private sector companies operating in a volatile world.

The Humanitarian Research Group (HRG) is housed under the INSEAD Social Innovation Centre, a premier hub for research and learning on the connection between business and society, part of the business school INSEAD. The HRG functions under the inspirational leadership of Professor Luk N. van Wassenhove, who holds the Henry Ford Chair of Manufacturing at INSEAD.

Three Key Areas

The Humanitarian Research Group concentrates on the following three key areas:

1. Logistics of Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response: The functioning of humanitarian organisations in between disasters

2. Response Coordination: Coordination of disaster response programme delivery

3. Inter-sector Collaboration: The role of the different sectors e.g. private sector, the military, the media; both between and during disasters

Experience

Over the past nine years the HRG has worked in close collaboration with private sector companies, humanitarian organisations, and private-public partnerships. These include:

• TNT
• The Red Cross Movement
• United Nations
• Medicines for Malaria Venture

The HRG has carried out in-depth research at headquarters and programme level, from Geneva, Switzerland to Gurue, Mozambique, to produce rigorous and relevant research. To date, research and pedagogic contribution of the HRG includes:

• The Executive Education Programme Management in the Humanitarian Sector
• An MBA elective course
• The first book of its kind "Humanitarian Logistics"
• Over 15 research papers
• More than 25 case studies

The education programmes, papers and pedagogical case studies of the HRG have won awards from internationally recognised bodies such as POMS and EFMD. The HRG has become one of the leading research groups on the subject of humanitarian logistics.

Donors and Sponsors

The HRG and their umbrella institute the INSEAD Social Innovation Centre are supported by a range of donors and sponsors. These donors and sponsors contribute to INSEAD’s mission and values and believe in the INSEAD Social Innovation Centre's ability to make a positive impact on society through business.

Individual donors or sponsors:

• Dagmar Hesse-Kreindler MBA'91, Managing Director, Obermark GmbH, Germany
• André Hoffmann MBA'90, Vice Chairman, Roche Holding, Switzerland
• Peter Sewing MBA'91, Managing Director, Obermark GmbH, Germany
• Anthony Simon MBA'68, Former President Marketing, Unilever Bestfoods, Belgium

Donor or sponsor Organisations:

• Yves Bernheim MBA'83, Chief Executive Officer, IRH Environnement, France
• Frans Cornelis MBA'83, Managing Director Marketing and Communications, Randstad Holding NV, The Netherlands
• Ton Doesburg MP'78, IEP'80, FE'02, Chief Executive Officer, Alliander Gruppe A.G., The Netherlands and Chairman of the Steering Board 08/09
• Ewoud Goudswaard MBA'88, Managing Director, ASN Bank, The Netherlands
• National P&K Securities S.A. (specifically sponsoring the HRG)

Outreach

Meaningful relationships with companies, NGOs, other research institutions and INSEAD's students and alumni provide the foundations of a diverse and open community through which the HRG makes a real impact. Here are a few examples of its activities (CHECK WITH ORLA):

• MBA International Development Field Projects: A four-month MBA elective gives INSEAD students the opportunity to do a hands-on field project for a client organisation whose work benefits economically under-privileged groups.
• Pepal Programme: Pepal is a new initiative that in collaboration with the INSEAD Social Innovation Centre, allows a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the private and non-profit sectors.

Publications

TBD

• Tomasini, Rolando & Van Wassenhove, Luk N. (2009). Humanitarian Logistics. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan.

External links

• pepal.org
• knowledge.insead.edu/socialinnovation.cfm