VEHA

VEHA

Guidance

Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser Tool – (VEHA Tool) is a tool
to easily integrate environmental considerations in humanitarian response. Field Implementation guidances are useful for the design and execution of humanitarian activities in the field.

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VEHA - Field Implementation Guidance

Welcome
Logistics
Transport
Transport services and fleet management
Fleet planning and vehicle or transport service selection

Fleet planning and vehicle or transport service selection

Context

Overview
Environmental factors causing/contributing to the needs and affecting the humanitarian activity

Vehicles and transport modes can be affected by the environment in various ways.

Firstly, if they are located in a disaster-prone area, they can be damaged by the disaster itself. Secondly, environmental factors can affect the transport routes used by the various types of vehicles. For example. floods can affect roads and thus cars and trucks cannot be used to transport the items. However, another mode of transport can be used instead such as boats.

The operating context, environmental, and road conditions will affect the decision and determine technical requirements of the vehicle such as 4WD, air conditioning, or other extra features. Availability of spare parts in the local market and local knowledge and capacity to achieve all types of maintenance and repairs is also an important factor to consider.

Implications
Gender, age, disability and HIV/AIDS implications

Promote equality of opportunity and inclusion for drivers, technicians, and logisticians including minorities and people living with disabilities.

Impacts

Environmental impact categories

Air pollution
Soil pollution
Water pollution
Climate change

Summary of Impacts
Summary of potential environmental impacts

Increase of carbon emissions

Impact detail
Detailed potential environmental impact information

Air pollution due to the environmental impacts associated with transportation instead of procuring items locally.

Guidance

Summary
Summary of environmental activities

Assess the transportation in terms of its environmental impact and take into account environmental considerations when selecting options.

Minimise any potential negative impacts of transportation on the environment.

Plan efficient transport routes, to reduce overall emissions.

Plan early procurement where possible so items can be sourced locally, or if remote then transported overland, if not then by sea, last resort to fly which is more polluting.

Consolidate cargo to reduce packaging; arrange shipping container sharing with other agencies to minimise the environmental impact of shipping half-empty containers;

Review supplier diversification versus consolidation to spread and therefore potentially reduce overall environmental impact.

Detail
Detailed guidance for implementing suggested environmental activities

Assess the transportation in terms of its environmental impact and take into account environmental considerations when selecting options.

Minimise any potential negative impacts of transportation on the environment.

Plan efficient transport routes, to reduce overall emissions.

Plan early procurement where possible so items can be sourced locally, or if remote then transported overland, if not then by sea, last resort to fly which is more polluting.

Consolidate cargo to reduce packaging; arrange shipping container sharing with other agencies to minimise the environmental impact of shipping half-empty containers;

Review supplier diversification versus consolidation to spread and therefore potentially reduce overall environmental impact.

Lessons Learnt
Lessons from past experiences

Independent monitoring of agencies responding to the Nepal earthquake found that drivers all came from the same caste and gender.

When this was highlighted, action was taken to improve diversity. This brought an additional benefit of diverse contribution to local knowledge, customs, and even engagement with beneficiaries and understanding of the local environment.

Activity Measurement
Environmental indicators/monitoring examples

Percentage reduction in loss and damage of goods during transport.

Percentage of carbon footprint reduction due to best practice transport operations

Priority
Activity Status
Medium
Main Focus
Focus of suggested activities

Prevention of environmental damage

Implications
Resource implications (physical assets, time, effort)

Time and resources to plan fleet/vehicle/transport sustainably.

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