Summary
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Programme (PHWP) is strengthening disaster preparedness across the Pacific by integrating environmental sustainability into humanitarian logistics and warehousing. Through collaboration between the Logistics Cluster, the Pacific Community and the World Food Programme (WFP), a regional training in Suva, Fiji, equipped National Disaster Management Offices and supply chain professionals from seven Pacific countries with practical tools to implement sustainable warehousing, reduce waste and apply green logistics solutions. The initiative demonstrated that embedding sustainability early in preparedness planning, strengthening national ownership and adapting approaches to local contexts are critical to building more resilient and environmentally responsible humanitarian supply chains.
Content
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Programme (PHWP) supports disaster preparedness across the region by strengthening pre-positioning, storage, and logistics capacity. It enhances the readiness of national systems to respond more efficiently to emergencies by ensuring critical supplies and infrastructure are in place. The programme integrates green warehousing as a core pillar, embedding environmental sustainability into preparedness efforts. By reducing environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable logistics practices, PHWP positions sustainability as a practical and operational component of readiness.
The Logistics Cluster Contribution
The Logistics Cluster supported the operationalization of this approach through partnership with the Pacific Community and the World Food Programme (WFP). This collaboration builds on a long-standing engagement, through which WREC also contributed to the development of PHWP’s green strategy. Together, partners delivered targeted capacity strengthening and hands-on training to translate strategy into practice. Held on 4–5 May in Suva, Fiji, the initiative brought together NDMOs and supply chain professionals from seven Pacific countries, strengthening their capacity to apply green logistics and warehousing practices in real operational contexts.
The capacity building activities equipped participants with practical knowledge and tools to embed environmental sustainability across humanitarian logistics operations, with a strong focus on:
- Sustainable Warehousing Practices
- End‑of‑life Management and Waste Reduction
- Actionable Green Logistics Solutions Tailored to Pacific Contexts
Lessons Learned
- Start Early - Integrate Sustainability in Preparedness
Embed environmental sustainability from the outset to drive meaningful
change, as the emergency phase is already too late to introduce effective
green practices.
- Use Training as Entry Point
Leverage capacity-building initiatives to operationalize sustainability in
preparedness and establish a foundation for future scale-up.
- Engage Government to Drive Impact
Position National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) at the center, as they bring context-specific realities, challenges, and practical solutions while ensuring ownership and continuity.
- Adapt to Context Specific Challenges
Tailor approaches to the Pacific’s geographic isolation and capacity
constraints, particularly in waste management, and anchor sustainability
within nationally led preparedness efforts.
Final Note
Integrating environmental sustainability into humanitarian logistics requires early action in preparedness, strong national ownership, and sustained partnerships. Continued collaboration remains essential to scale impact, and the Logistics Cluster will continue to support partners in advancing these efforts in the region.