Date of Conferral

7-26-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Thomas Butkiewicz

Abstract

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) consists of six countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Operating in a region that is rich in natural resources, especially oil, and gas, the GCC has become a center of gravity for international humanitarian organizations because of its humanitarian giving history and its proximity to several conflict-stricken countries. Despite their generosity, GCC governments' giving patterns have been criticized for impeding international coordination and complementarity of humanitarian efforts. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore government officials' and humanitarian workers' understanding of how GCC governments could better align their aid programs with internationally acknowledged good humanitarian donorship practices. Senge’s systems theory, Kauffman’s systems complexity theory, and Bonabeau and Meyer’s swarm intelligence theory constituted the study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight government officials from KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, and 12 humanitarian workers with experience in the region. Data analysis followed Saldaña's two-stage coding process. The key finding indicated a need for GCC donors to adopt internationally acknowledged best practices related to coordination, accountability, motivation, strategic planning, and predictability. The implications for positive social change include encouraging GCC donors to align their geopolitical giving approaches with the international aid community while maximizing aid effectiveness. Such efforts may affect the lives and well-being of millions of people who desperately need humanitarian assistance.

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