Conflict Sensitive Logistics

The conflict sensitive logistics concept acknowledges the key role played by transportation actors in destabilizing commodity flows which fuel conflicts as well as instability in fragile states.

These companies may transport humanitarian aid on behalf of humanitarian organizations or offer logistics support to peace-keeping operations as well as transporting illicit weapons or other destabilizing commodities which fuel, fund and facilitate conflict.

Conflict sensitive logistics programs therefore focus on safeguards and techniques that the global humanitarian aid and peace support communities can deploy to  transform the behaviour of transportation companies operating within conflict zones, disaster relief operations and their associated regional transportation hubs.

Conflict sensitive logistics programs are built around training and transformative tools and are based on humanitarian principles.  They are designed to promote ethical transportation policies and codes of conduct similar to other established conflict-sensitive business practices (CSBP).

While acknowledging the humanitarian imperative, conflict-sensitive logistics programs should ultimately ensure that humanitarian aid and peace support operations avoid contracting commercial entities involved in destabilizing commodity flows which contribute to on-going violence, corruption, criminality or human rights violations.