Effectiveness of Blockchain in overcoming barriers in Humanitarian Supply Chain

In the era of Industry 4.0 many new technologies are emerging and changing the status quo in many industries and sectors. On the other hand, people around the world are grappling with serious humanitarian issues of hunger, poor infrastructure effecting housing, education, healthcare. These problems are a result of complex causes ranging from natural disasters, environmental causes and human enforced causes such as ill governance, terrorism and forceable displacement of population belonging to certain communities. To address the humanitarian crisis global institutions are tirelessly working to assuage the suffering of people in crisis. Back bone of such initiatives is the Humanitarian Supply Chains which are often a complex linkage of Global non-profit organizations, private players, independent contractors, and local volunteers This paper aims at identifying the areas in humanitarian supply chain which can be improved by implementation of Blockchain technology. Barriers to humanitarian supply chains are identified from the extensive literature review. Using the responses received from experts in Humanitarian Supply Chains and Blockchain, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted giving us 4 factors in the context of Blockchain Implementation.