Sustainable humanitarian logistics in Africa: an empirical investigation of a technology-driven service-based, stakeholder-inclusive model

Purpose Drawing on stakeholder theory, we aim to understand how African humanitarian organizations can enhance sustainable logistics by adopting a service-based model that promotes stakeholder collaboration and community involvement while effectively leveraging emerging technologies and navigating bureaucratic challenges. Design/methodology/approach Using surveys, we gathered 434 valid responses from Africa and further tested the research model by applying structural equation modeling. Findings The findings indicate that using emerging technologies in humanitarian logistics (HL) has a positive effect on a service-oriented approach that emphasizes stakeholder inclusivity. This approach also enhances community engagement. As a result, service-based HL with stakeholder inclusivity serves as a mediator in this process. Additionally, we discovered that bureaucratic barriers and policy constraints function as a negative moderator. Importantly, our research shows that community engagement contributes positively to sustainable humanitarian logistics performance. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that theorizes the relationships between emerging digital technologies, stakeholder-inclusive service-based HL models, community engagement and sustainable performance within the African context. It also contributes uniquely by examining the mediating role of service-based practices and the moderating effect of bureaucratic barriers, grounded in stakeholder theory.