This research purpose is to develop a decision-making mechanism capable of enhancing SADC effectiveness and efficiency during regional relief operations. The research was conducted in three phases: phase 1 with the aim of exploring SADC relief supply operations readiness, their available infrastructures as well as the existing coordination between relief agencies and other relevant parties. Phase 2 aims at enhancing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the SADC regional decision-making mechanism during relief operations. Phase 3 finally optimizes the pre-positioned relief supplies and demands in facility locations across SADC by dealing with two key decision factors affecting the region namely the time and the cost. Using a Multi-Criteria decision Making (MCDM) based on its Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach, the results, under certain assumptions, yielded an insignificant cost-saving between air transportation and marine transportation. However, applying the decision-making scenarios in an Excel linear optimization model, the study has revealed that by increasing the number of cities or countries involved in a particular humanitarian operation, decreases the overall logistical costs including transportation, prepositioned storage, etc. The proposed methodology provides a detailed decision support framework for humanitarian organizations operating in the region. The model adds important value to the literature as the proposed problem has no solution in the literature before.

这项研究的目的是建立一种决策机制，该机制能够在区域救援行动中提高南部非洲发展共同体的有效性和效率。这项研究分三个阶段进行：第一阶段，目的是探索南部非洲发展共同体救济供应行动的准备情况，可用的基础设施以及救济机构与其他有关方面之间的现有协调。第二阶段的目的是在救济行动期间提高南部非洲发展共同体区域决策机制的效率和效力。第三阶段通过处理影响该地区的两个关键决策因素，即时间和成本，最终优化了南部非洲发展共同体中设施位置的预定救援物资和需求。使用基于其层次分析法（AHP）方法的多标准决策（MCDM），在某些假设下，航空运输和海上运输之间的成本节省不大。但是，通过在Excel线性优化模型中应用决策方案，研究表明，通过增加参与特定人道主义行动的城市或国家的数量，可以减少包括运输，预先安置的仓库等在内的总体物流成本。该方法为在该地区开展活动的人道主义组织提供了详细的决策支持框架。该模型为文献增加了重要价值，因为所提出的问题以前在文献中都没有解决。该研究表明，通过增加参与特定人道主义行动的城市或国家的数量，可以降低包括运输，预先安置的仓库等在内的总体后勤成本。拟议的方法为在该区域行动的人道主义组织提供了详细的决策支持框架。该模型为文献增加了重要价值，因为所提出的问题以前在文献中都没有解决。该研究表明，通过增加参与特定人道主义行动的城市或国家的数量，可以降低包括运输，预先安置的仓库等在内的总体后勤成本。拟议的方法为在该区域行动的人道主义组织提供了详细的决策支持框架。该模型为文献增加了重要价值，因为所提出的问题以前在文献中都没有解决。