TABLE 1.

Challenges and alliances.

Challenges	Solutions
Lack of mutual understanding	To specify the necessities as soon as participation channels are prede-fined so that expectations are met when and where needed.
Lack of transparency and responsibility	To agree on communication strategies to avoid conflicting messages that may compromise the partnership validity.
Commitment level	To develop engagement rules that define needs in advance and that can be fulfilled by the alliance, together with protocols and guidelines to reach agreement on service levels and clarify expectations of different levels and stages.
Roles and responsibilities	To determine areas to improve skills and allow each party to focus on areas where they can best contribute.
Relations management	To develop partnerships in non-emergency periods. Building relationship and getting to know each other requires significant investment from both sides.

Source: Adapted from Tomasini, R. & Van Wassenhove, L., 2009, ‘!Humanitarian logistics. Insead Business Press WFP’, viewed 27 March 2015, from http://www.wfp.org/how-to-help/companies/partner/tnt