Application of fuzzy DEMATEL–ANP methods for siting refugee camps
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
ISSN: 2042-6747
Article publication date: 1 May 2020
Issue publication date: 17 August 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper was to investigate the criteria and sub-criteria with the most impact on determining a suitable location for refugee camps. This paper also analysed the relationships between the main criteria used in the selection process.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applied a combination of fuzzy methods and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytical Network Process (ANP) methods as tools for multiple-criteria decision analysis. A questionnaire was distributed to field workers in an international humanitarian organization team.
Findings
Five main criteria and twenty sub-criteria were defined. Between them, the highest ranked sub-criteria were long-term planning, optimal distribution and opportunity for growth. These findings were specific to the interviewed respondents of presented research at the time the data were collected and offer a potential research design for future research examining different organizations and teams.
Research limitations/implications
The methods and evaluation were based on human opinions that were potentially biased.
Practical implications
The results of this study could be useful to government organizations, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations and other decision-making parties in selecting camp locations for refugees or internally displaced people according to how the importance of particular sub-criteria is understood.
Originality/value
New sub-criteria were included in this research. To date, the combination of fuzzy, DEMATEL and ANP methods has not been previously used in relation to these issues. Scientific knowledge concerning refugee camp siting problems is limited. This research extends this knowledge with the involvement of humanitarian workers as respondents. This paper also offers organizations a process for solving complex decision-making problems with long-term results or effect.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to express her gratitude to all respondents for their time, willingness, and kindness. The author would like to thank Reena Sattar for editing this paper and all her support, and Dr. Wojciech Piotrowicz and Petr Kolář for their comments which greatly improved the paper together with two anonymous reviewers. Any errors and omissions are the author’s. The research project was co-financed by the University of Economics, Prague.
Citation
Abikova, J. (2020), "Application of fuzzy DEMATEL–ANP methods for siting refugee camps", Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 347-369. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-12-2018-0078
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited