Cargo drones in humanitarian action
This project was finalised.
How cargo drones could help our operations?
In 2017 we did a research on cargo drones that included market analysis, interview with Operations staff in the Operation Centre Paris (OCP) and scenario modelling. We tried to understand if there is a case for the use of cargo drones in humanitarian action and if so what this could be the case. The findings highlighted that cargo drones could help in overcoming some transportation challenges at last mile delivery that are related to:
- Lack of roads or bad road conditions;
- Lack of local availability of vehicles;
- Rainy season (causing six-month floods);
- Refusal of access by military or government;
- Security issues;
MSF Operations staff identified several scenarios where cargo drones could be used to improve our activities such as:
- Transportation of expensive, scarce and difficult-to-store items (ex. Snakebite Antivenom Immunoglobulin);
- Cold chain items and vaccines;
- Medical supplies
Objectives
The aim of this qualitative study was to evaluate the business cases for cargo drones in humanitarian action.
Progress so far
The final report of Evaluation of the Business Cases for Cargo Drones in Humanitarian Action was created. While initially the general needs in terms of transportation and the perspectives inside MSF were investigated, the study discussed the feasibility and identified potential business cases as well as the critical factors for the use of cargo drones.
In the end, specific MSF programmes for a potential realisation were identified and specific cargo drone models were conceptualised.
- Specialty
- Logistics/procurement
- Schedule
- 2015-2017
- Clients
- MSF Operational Centre Paris, MSF Logistique
Last update: August 2017
- ©Frederic NOY