Elena Garnevska

Coordination in humanitarian relief chains: chain coordinators

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify chain coordinators and to explore their roles. The paper also highlights certain advantages of coordination, specific competencies of the coordinators, and challenges in the coordination.Design/methodology/approach – This is a case study research. The data were collected through interviews, observations, and personal experiences of working as a logistics manager and a project manager in the 2005 South Asian earthquake.Findings – The coordinated organizations manage a number of complex relationships to respond to the disasters effectively and efficiently. An umbrella organization plays a chain coordinator role in horizontal coordination. The umbrella organization leads, directs, and makes major decisions. A country director/programme manager acts as a strategic coordinator in vertical coordination. However, logistics managers, procurement managers and project managers (operations coordinators) also handle coordination activities. The coordinators’ tangible...

Development and challenges of cocoa cooperatives in Papua New Guinea: case of Manus province

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), cooperatives have a long and dynamic history, and since 2000 they have been promoted by the government as a vehicle for economic and social development. There have been few studies on cooperatives in PNG and no prior research into cocoa cooperatives. This study explores the development and challenges of cocoa cooperatives in PNG. Cooperatives were mainly formed as a response to governmental initiatives as well as to provide access to processing facilities, overcome market difficulties, reduce unemployment and improve living conditions. Cooperatives and collectives among farmers and growers are important mechanisms in fostering social and economic development in PNG. Problems associated with land tenure insecurity, small land holdings, lack of access to capital, poor rural infrastructure, among others, have been reduced with farmer collectives and cooperatives across the Pacific countries. This paper outlines the role that cooperatives, and cocoa cooperatives in particular, have had in rural development in the Manus province of PNG.

Towards high value markets: a case study of smallholder vegetable farmers in Indonesia

The expansion of modern markets has significant implications for agriculture in many developing countries that provides both opportunities and challenges for smallholder farmers. The purpose of this paper is to analyse key determinants affecting farmers’ participation in high value markets, compared to traditional market. Face to face interviews based on a questionnaire were conducted with a sample of 126 smallholder vegetable farmers in the Manokwari region. Binary logistic regression and bivariate correlation analysis were used in this study. The results suggested that age, education level, vegetables cultivated area and membership in farmer groups/cooperatives were the key determinants that had significant effects on the smallholder farmers’ decision about marketing channel participation. In addition, the income generated from vegetable farming was positively correlated to high value market participation. Some implications that need to be prioritized in agricultural development strategies include impro...