Abstract
The focus of this dissertation was on the critical variables that influence the development of humanitarian leadership. The humanitarian sector is still inundated by many challenges that influence the role of humanitarian leaders on a global scale. This study specifically interrogated the characteristics of ethical, servant and humanitarian leadership within the field of humanitarian aid and relief organisations to explore how humanitarian leaders can be developed to fulfil their important roles. More specifically, it investigated how ethical leadership practices and ideas can influence leadership within humanitarian organisations. The guiding primary research question for this dissertation was to determine what the role and characteristics of effective humanitarian leaders entail. The study objectives aimed to provide a systemic exploration of the current knowledge, concepts, views and theories of the leadership phenomenon and an overview of humanitarian leadership, their challenges and the need to find solutions through human-centred humanitarian leaders. They also conceptualised and contextualised stakeholders and role-players in the domain of humanitarian aid and relief and determined the variables influencing ethical leadership in the domain of humanitarian leadership. The final objective provided a synthesis, conclusions and recommendations obtained from the literature study and findings of the study in order to answer the research question(s) of the study. The research approach entailed the application of unobtrusive research based on a qualitative research paradigm. It utilised a conceptual and contextual analysis as research analyses instruments by way of a literature study. Attempts to define humanitarian leadership in literature, revealed that no single theoretical approach can explain the complexity of the role of leaders in humanitarian organisations providing aid, relief or security.
M.A. (Public Management and Governance)