The document discusses opportunities for private sector engagement in natural disaster risk management beyond traditional emergency response and relief efforts. It argues that private companies have greater scope, ability to leverage core competencies, and potential for sustainable involvement in disaster risk reduction activities like hazard monitoring, risk mitigation, and building community resilience. Engaging businesses in these proactive risk-reducing areas through public-private partnerships could significantly reduce human and economic costs of future natural catastrophes.
Find here the top headlines from the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate: as summarised by CDKN for South Asian audiences - please use together with our report of the same name on www.cdkn.org/oceanreport and find all narratives and photo credits in our associated report.
Looking at how we can lead the way in environmental sustainability in the marine industry. This presentation covers the key issues we are facing and offers insights into how we might mitigate these risks.
Promoting Climate Action through Education for Sustainable Development in Lea...ESD UNU-IAS
Case Study presentation: Promoting Climate Action through Education for Sustainable Development in Learning Institutions
Georgina Resiato Minis (NEMA) & Mr. Dennis Onyancha, RCE North Rift
11th Global RCE Conference
7-9 December, 2018
Cebu, the Philippines
World Environment Day is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.
The World Environment Day celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.
Through World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.
World Environment Day is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.
Everyone counts in this initiative and World Environment Day relies on you to make it happen! We call for action — organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, stop food waste, walk to work, start a recycling drive . . . the possibilities are endless.
Este documento histórico se dirige a cada delegación nacional, internacional y las Naciones Unidas en el contexto de la Conferencia Río +20. Es fruto del trabajo interdisciplinario de colaboración de más de 200 investigadores de las zonas costeras de todo el mundo. El objetivo principal es poner de relieve (i) los retos que se vislumbran de las zonas costeras y (ii) sus posibles soluciones desde la perspectiva de la Comunidad Científica y Tecnológica, como parte del esfuerzo para construir y alcanzar los objetivos de Río +20.
Find here the top headlines from the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate: as summarised by CDKN for African audiences - please use together with our report of the same name on www.cdkn.org/oceanreport and find all narratives and photo credits in our associated report.
Find here the top headlines from the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate: as summarised by CDKN for South Asian audiences - please use together with our report of the same name on www.cdkn.org/oceanreport and find all narratives and photo credits in our associated report.
Looking at how we can lead the way in environmental sustainability in the marine industry. This presentation covers the key issues we are facing and offers insights into how we might mitigate these risks.
Promoting Climate Action through Education for Sustainable Development in Lea...ESD UNU-IAS
Case Study presentation: Promoting Climate Action through Education for Sustainable Development in Learning Institutions
Georgina Resiato Minis (NEMA) & Mr. Dennis Onyancha, RCE North Rift
11th Global RCE Conference
7-9 December, 2018
Cebu, the Philippines
World Environment Day is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.
The World Environment Day celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.
Through World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.
World Environment Day is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.
Everyone counts in this initiative and World Environment Day relies on you to make it happen! We call for action — organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, stop food waste, walk to work, start a recycling drive . . . the possibilities are endless.
Este documento histórico se dirige a cada delegación nacional, internacional y las Naciones Unidas en el contexto de la Conferencia Río +20. Es fruto del trabajo interdisciplinario de colaboración de más de 200 investigadores de las zonas costeras de todo el mundo. El objetivo principal es poner de relieve (i) los retos que se vislumbran de las zonas costeras y (ii) sus posibles soluciones desde la perspectiva de la Comunidad Científica y Tecnológica, como parte del esfuerzo para construir y alcanzar los objetivos de Río +20.
Find here the top headlines from the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate: as summarised by CDKN for African audiences - please use together with our report of the same name on www.cdkn.org/oceanreport and find all narratives and photo credits in our associated report.
Asia HealthTech Investments by Julien de Salaberry (30 June 2015)KickstartPH
Kickstart Ventures' 2nd HealthTech Forum featured Julien de Salaberry, a globally-recognised expert on healthcare and technology.
Julien, the Chief Innovation Officer and Founder of The Propell Group (based in Singapore), talked about healthcare trends in Southeast Asia and how “frugal innovation" can be done in healthcare delivery.
And yeah, if you've got an interesting healthtech startup, message us at info@kickstart.ph. #startupPH
Making Your Trip to the Beach More Fun and More Excitingcaramoanhaven
When you want to relax, unwind and get rid of all your stresses, you often think of going to a place where you can have the simple pleasures of unplugging and enjoying nature in your otherwise tech-heavy and work-driven realities. The very first thing that will most likely come to your mind is none other than - The Beach! Yes, the beach is the right place if you want to enjoy beauty and tranquility. - http://www.caramoanhaven.co/
Are your featured marketing images aiding or hurting leads and sales? Learn how to transition basic images into compelling 'hero shots' that drive EPIC conversion with these 7 key principles.
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Four Revealing Insights into the Customer Support Industry for 2016Kayako
Here are the four interesting statistics that emerged from the research, based on an international survey of 100+ support agents, managers, directors and VPs.
Read the full report: http://learn.kayako.com/state-of-the-profession-2016
About the Report:
The first ever Kayako Customer Support State of the Profession Report surveyed 116 respondents to understand customer support trends in salary, tenure, job satisfaction and challenges.
We created the report for, and with the help of, the customer support community. Until now, there has been little research done on the state of the profession so we worked with the support community to give them some deeper insight into their industry.
The report is anonymous, and designed to gain an overview the customer support function, different roles within the industry, and the challenges that teams of all sizes are currently facing.
This is the first report of its kind, and we hope to use it as a benchmark to measure against in our next annual report.
Read on to learn more about the trends affecting the industry, including salary, tenure, job satisfaction and challenges.
Read the full report: http://learn.kayako.com/state-of-the-profession-2016
Climate change is expected to increase risks to businesses, infrastructure, assets, and
economies. Extreme weather events and disasters are already damaging assets, disrupting supply chains, reducing productivity and revenues, and destroying livelihoods.
In Cameroon, a developing country, costs involved in becoming more resilient to climate change are increasing every year at the rate of 6 to 8%. Adaptation costs and finance needs will rise more rapidly under a 30 to 45°C (NSI, 2014 Yaounde).
Module 3 OverviewMitigation and PreparednessThe discipline of .docxannandleola
Module 3 Overview
Mitigation and Preparedness
The discipline of mitigation provides the means for reducing disaster impacts. Mitigation is defined as a sustained action to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects. Preparedness within the field of emergency management can be defined not only as a state of readiness to respond to a disaster, crisis or any other type of emergency situation, but also a theme throughout most aspects of emergency management. In this module, you will describe the variety of mitigation tools available to planners. You will understand the impediments to mitigation and other associated problems that exist. You will explain how the Federal Government and other agencies and organizations support mitigation. Different mitigation measures that are performed to address actual disaster risk will be addressed.
In addition, you will understand why preparedness is considered the “building block” of emergency management. The differences that exist between hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness will be discussed. Evaluation planning is important and will be focused upon in this module. The different emergency management exercise types will be identified. Training and equipment for first responders will be described. Lastly, you will learn how businesses and nongovernmental organizations prepare for emergencies.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:
4A
Explain why preparedness is considered the "building block" of emergency management.
6A
Explain why evacuation planning is important, and why special consideration must be made when planning for the disaster-related needs of certain vulnerable populations.
8A
Explain how the Federal Government and other agencies and organizations support mitigation.
3B
Describe the variety of mitigation tools available to planners.
4B
Describe how training and equipment helps first responders to prepare.
5B
Discuss the differences that exist between hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness.
10B
Describe the different emergency management exercise types and explain what each involves.
3C
Understand the impediments to mitigation and other associated problems that exist.
5C
Explain how businesses and nongovernmental organizations prepare for emergencies.
3D
Identify different mitigation measures performed to address actual disaster risk.
Module 3 Reading Assignment
Haddow, G., Bullock, J., & Coppola, D. (2011). Introduction to emergency management. Burlington: Elsevier. Chapters 3 and 4.
The Disciplines of Emergency Management: Mitigation
The discipline of mitigation provides the means for reducing disaster impacts. Mitigation is defined as a sustained action to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects. The body of knowledge and applications in the area of mitigation are still evolving, but many successes have been achieved. Additionally, many of the successfu ...
Global catastrophic risks are risks that seriously threaten human well-being on a global scale. An immensely diverse collection of events could constitute global catastrophes: potential factors range from volcanic eruptions to epidemic infections, nuclear accidents to worldwide tyrannies, out-of-control scientific experiments to climatic changes, and cosmic hazards to economic collapse. This paper outlines how catastrophe exposures place special demands on insurer capitalization and require a distinct risk management approach. The interaction or co-variance (versus independence) of the various risks, a company faces, is an important factor in determining the company’s total capital requirements.
Discussion Question For this week’s assigned reading, you were t.docxelinoraudley582231
Discussion Question: For this week’s assigned reading, you were to select one of the 16 sector specific plans associates with a critical infrastructure sector of your choosing. For this week's forum report, tell us which critical infrastructure plan you read and explain the vital role the private sector plays carrying out the objectives of this document.
Instructions: Fully utilize the materials that have been provided to you in order to support your response. Your initial post should be at least 350 words. Please respond to at least two other students.
Lesson
Week Six – Critical Infrastructure (Private Sector)
In previous lessons, we have examined how the nation’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors come to bear upon risk at the national and local levels of government. Since the private sector owns and/or operates the vast majority of this infrastructure, no discussion of risk to our nation or to our communities is complete without bringing this tremendous asset into consideration. The private sector plays a tremendous part related to risk, as it can be a contributor to it, as well as an aid in lessening its impact. In addition, the manner in which the private sector withstands and recovers from disaster events is a significant determining factor in the resiliency of our local communities, and of our nation as a whole. This week, we look at the integral role that the private sector plays in the determination of risk. We will do this in light of the six strategic challenges that have been noted previously, and within the parameters of the nation’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors.
So what defines or makes up the private sector? According to DHS, it includes “businesses, industries, private schools and universities” that are essential components of our communities, and are expected to carry out a wide range of critical roles (DHS, 2014, p. 91). As mentioned previously, the lion’s share of the nation’s infrastructure is owned or ran by the private sector; and therefore, it is responsible for the immediate security of its facilities, associated property, and for employee safety. In most cases, there is a working relationship that has been established between the private and public sectors; and this can be seen at both the local national levels. This partnership has always existed to one degree or another, oftentimes carried out in a very casual, unstructured manner. Yet, with the introduction of the National Preparedness System in late 2011, the formulation and operation of these relationships has become more structured. Yet, as highlighted in the 2013 National Infrastructure Protection Plan, benefits must be provided to all partners if the relationship is to be an effective one. The value proposition as it relates to government is quite clear, in that coordinating with infrastructure stakeholders has a direct impact upon preserving public safety and ensuring national security. Therefore, it is up to government at all levels to recognize.
Many businesses and governments have been reporting on environmental and climate data for over 15 years now, but the way they do is set to change. Following the UN’s Paris
Agreement to address climate risk by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, financial regulators are increasingly concerned about the systemic risks that climate change poses to the financial
system. After the 2008 financial crisis, regulators do not want any disorderly transitions in the market due to a misallocation of capital
Explore our most comprehensive guide on lookback analysis at SafePaaS, covering access governance and how it can transform modern ERP audits. Browse now!
Business Valuation Principles for EntrepreneursBen Wann
This insightful presentation is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and tools needed to accurately value their businesses. Understanding business valuation is crucial for making informed decisions, whether you're seeking investment, planning to sell, or simply want to gauge your company's worth.
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is buzzing with discussions after Google confirmed that around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its Search feature are indeed authentic. The revelation has sparked significant concerns within the SEO community. The leaked documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, igniting widespread analysis and discourse. For More Info:- https://news.arihantwebtech.com/search-disrupted-googles-leaked-documents-rock-the-seo-world/
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Memorandum Of Association Constitution of Company.pptseri bangash
www.seribangash.com
A Memorandum of Association (MOA) is a legal document that outlines the fundamental principles and objectives upon which a company operates. It serves as the company's charter or constitution and defines the scope of its activities. Here's a detailed note on the MOA:
Contents of Memorandum of Association:
Name Clause: This clause states the name of the company, which should end with words like "Limited" or "Ltd." for a public limited company and "Private Limited" or "Pvt. Ltd." for a private limited company.
https://seribangash.com/article-of-association-is-legal-doc-of-company/
Registered Office Clause: It specifies the location where the company's registered office is situated. This office is where all official communications and notices are sent.
Objective Clause: This clause delineates the main objectives for which the company is formed. It's important to define these objectives clearly, as the company cannot undertake activities beyond those mentioned in this clause.
www.seribangash.com
Liability Clause: It outlines the extent of liability of the company's members. In the case of companies limited by shares, the liability of members is limited to the amount unpaid on their shares. For companies limited by guarantee, members' liability is limited to the amount they undertake to contribute if the company is wound up.
https://seribangash.com/promotors-is-person-conceived-formation-company/
Capital Clause: This clause specifies the authorized capital of the company, i.e., the maximum amount of share capital the company is authorized to issue. It also mentions the division of this capital into shares and their respective nominal value.
Association Clause: It simply states that the subscribers wish to form a company and agree to become members of it, in accordance with the terms of the MOA.
Importance of Memorandum of Association:
Legal Requirement: The MOA is a legal requirement for the formation of a company. It must be filed with the Registrar of Companies during the incorporation process.
Constitutional Document: It serves as the company's constitutional document, defining its scope, powers, and limitations.
Protection of Members: It protects the interests of the company's members by clearly defining the objectives and limiting their liability.
External Communication: It provides clarity to external parties, such as investors, creditors, and regulatory authorities, regarding the company's objectives and powers.
https://seribangash.com/difference-public-and-private-company-law/
Binding Authority: The company and its members are bound by the provisions of the MOA. Any action taken beyond its scope may be considered ultra vires (beyond the powers) of the company and therefore void.
Amendment of MOA:
While the MOA lays down the company's fundamental principles, it is not entirely immutable. It can be amended, but only under specific circumstances and in compliance with legal procedures. Amendments typically require shareholder
Unveiling the Secrets How Does Generative AI Work.pdfSam H
At its core, generative artificial intelligence relies on the concept of generative models, which serve as engines that churn out entirely new data resembling their training data. It is like a sculptor who has studied so many forms found in nature and then uses this knowledge to create sculptures from his imagination that have never been seen before anywhere else. If taken to cyberspace, gans work almost the same way.
Falcon stands out as a top-tier P2P Invoice Discounting platform in India, bridging esteemed blue-chip companies and eager investors. Our goal is to transform the investment landscape in India by establishing a comprehensive destination for borrowers and investors with diverse profiles and needs, all while minimizing risk. What sets Falcon apart is the elimination of intermediaries such as commercial banks and depository institutions, allowing investors to enjoy higher yields.
3.0 Project 2_ Developing My Brand Identity Kit.pptxtanyjahb
A personal brand exploration presentation summarizes an individual's unique qualities and goals, covering strengths, values, passions, and target audience. It helps individuals understand what makes them stand out, their desired image, and how they aim to achieve it.
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Accpac to QuickBooks Conversion Navigating the Transition with Online Account...PaulBryant58
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to
effectively manage the convert Accpac to QuickBooks , with a particular focus on utilizing online accounting services to streamline the process.
"𝑩𝑬𝑮𝑼𝑵 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑻𝑱 𝑰𝑺 𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑭 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑬"
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 (𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬) is a professional event agency that includes experts in the event-organizing market in Vietnam, Korea, and ASEAN countries. We provide unlimited types of events from Music concerts, Fan meetings, and Culture festivals to Corporate events, Internal company events, Golf tournaments, MICE events, and Exhibitions.
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 provides unlimited package services including such as Event organizing, Event planning, Event production, Manpower, PR marketing, Design 2D/3D, VIP protocols, Interpreter agency, etc.
Sports events - Golf competitions/billiards competitions/company sports events: dynamic and challenging
⭐ 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:
➢ 2024 BAEKHYUN [Lonsdaleite] IN HO CHI MINH
➢ SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S. THE SHOW : Th3ee Guys in HO CHI MINH
➢FreenBecky 1st Fan Meeting in Vietnam
➢CHILDREN ART EXHIBITION 2024: BEYOND BARRIERS
➢ WOW K-Music Festival 2023
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"𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬."
Set off and carry forward of losses and assessment of individuals.pptx
Disaster Risk Reduction
1. In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the international humanitarian and
disaster relief community witnessed the increasing willingness of the private sector to engage
in activities related to natural disaster management. The bulk of that engagement focused on
emergency response and relief, with significant resources also committed to longer-term
efforts in recovery and reconstruction. Yet private sector resources must also be extended to
work in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). This work offers greater scope for involvement, more
opportunities to leverage core private sector competencies, and a more sustainable paradigm
for engagement than traditional response and relief. Risk-reducing activities can be
undertaken as a part of recovery and reconstruction, though their importance is not limited to
the post-disaster context.
Embracing the concept of DRR is important for all actors – public, private and non-
governmental. While robust cost/benefit analyses still need to be conducted, professionals in
the field of disaster management argue that the human and economic costs of natural
catastrophes will be reduced most effectively by investments in Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR). 1 Such risk-reducing activities may include monitoring and surveillance of natural
hazards; attempts to mitigate the impacts of those hazards; and efforts to better prepare
exposed communities to respond should the arrival of the hazard turn into a crisis. These
activities need to be established as a core aspect of development – and the private sector has
a significant opportunity to contribute to that process.2
Private sector engagement with these activities simply makes particular sense. This
recommendation proposes that businesses have
1. Greater scope for engagement in DRR than in response and relief
2. Greater opportunity to leverage core business competencies through DRR than
through response and relief
3. Greater inclination to engage sustainably with disaster management in a DRR context
than through response and relief
In South Asia, the ongoing recovery and reconstruction post-Tsunami offers an opportunity to
prove this argument by engaging business in vital risk-reducing activities. These activities
should not, however, be considered limited to post-disaster reconstruction – they are
important for sustaining human and economic development.
1
See for example ProVention, ‘'Measuring Mitigation': Methodologies for assessing natural hazard
risks and the net benefits of mitigation - A scoping study / Synthesis report.’
2
The Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005-2015 (UN/ISDR), is the most complete overview of the
opportunities for public, private, and multilateral actors to engage in Disaster Risk Reduction as an
aspect of human and economic development.
2. The figure above offers broad categories for natural disaster risk management activities. The
height of the bars indicates the scope for private sector engagement in these activities. Some
examples of each activity are included, with green, yellow, and blue circles indicating the
expected private sector motivation for engaging with the activity and the associated expected
form of that engagement.
Hazard Assessment and Reduction
Thorough natural disaster risk management should address the hazards themselves – here
usually meteorological hazards (storms, droughts) or geophysical ones (earthquakes).
Businesses will play an important but limited part in assessing hazards, particularly through
the support of monitoring, surveillance, and the development of early warning systems.
Improved surveillance of natural hazards like storms and earthquakes is both publicly
beneficial and of private value, particularly for companies undertaking holistic Enterprise Risk
Management activities. While governments and international organisations may always hold
primary responsibility for surveillance and early warning, there may be opportunities for the
private sector to provide appropriate support for development of these technologies in
developing countries. Multinational corporations (MNCs) considering the ‘country risk’
exposure of their investments should be particularly interested in the potential long-term risk
reduction benefits of a public-private partnership (PPP) for improved monitoring, surveillance,
and early warning.
Hazard reduction may seem counterintuitive where the hazard is as uncontrollable as mother
nature herself, but given the growing consensus around the impacts of climate change on
storm intensity and drought patterns, there may be opportunities for public and private actors
to reduce the hazards they will face in the very long term. Where progressive legislation has
been brought to bear, hazard-reducing actions (such as emissions reductions to slow global
3. climate change) have moved from the realm of social responsibility all the way to competitive
imperative. Innovative attempts to pool and market incentives for a broader set of
environmental hazard reductions have met with only limited success, but may prove to a be a
long-term sustainable option for risk reduction.3
Risk Mitigation
It is in the area of risk mitigation where the business community has the broadest scope for
participation in natural disaster risk management. Risk mitigating activities may include
everything from business continuity planning, to building retrofits, to the broader extension of
insurance via micro-insurance and insurance pooling, to information- and expertise-sharing,
to the support of forward-thinking regulation of land use4 and trade policies.5
There is a pure business case for some of these activities, which offer profitable opportunities
and/or competitive advantages to firms, and should be pursued in the marketplace. Others
may offer a blended social and business value and be most effectively undertaken in public-
private partnership. But nearly all of these risk-mitigating opportunities make use of both the
assets and skills businesses can bring to the table, be they technical competencies in
construction or financial risk modelling, skills in management and training, or a deep
understanding of how regulation impacts the business environment.
The financial services sector has a strong business case for its engagement in risk mitigation,
from sales of appropriate insurance products to the issue and trading of ‘Cat Bonds’, which
benefit both traders (through low statistical correlation with other financial instruments) and
societies (by increasing access to insurance capital). Swiss Re recently issued earthquake
bonds on behalf of the Mexican government, providing $160 million in additional insurance
against a major earthquake and increasing the total amount of ‘traded’ natural catastrophe
risk by more than 4%. Both construction and environmental engineers are also likely to profit
from risk-reducing contracting to build more resilient physical infrastructure (buildings,
pipelines, etc) and natural infrastructure (coastlines, mangroves, watersheds, etc.). Kousky
and Zeckhouser’s ‘JARring Actions that Fuel the Floods’ offers a number of suggestions for
policy-based incentives that can spur this kind of private investment.6 The private sector
should be encouraged to participate in the policy dialogue around such risk mitigation;
feedback from the markets is the most effective way to price the benefits of risk mitigation and
the necessary costs that may come in the form of taxation or subsidies to support private
investment.
Where businesses have been able to provide resources to tsunami response and relief, many
may be able to draw more deeply on core business competencies given the chance to
participate in proactive mitigation. Investments in recovery offer a terrific chance to leverage
these competencies and mitigate future risk. Engineering and construction expertise should
be tapped to reduce future vulnerabilities, and appropriate work should be incentivised by
regulation. The market for insurance should be examined, and if it is found to be weak,
regulatory incentives and opportunities for pooling should be explored. Businesses should
plan for resilience, through financial and operational risk mitigation measures. They should
also contribute to the resilience of the local economic environment, through support for
appropriate regulation and through their ability to create social capital as employers and
actors in the community.
3
See, for example, http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/
4
For example, both re-insurers and holders of Natural Catastrophe bonds may wish to lobby for land use
regulation that decreases their financial exposure to disasters. ForestRe’s bond issue supporting forest
management around the Panama canal is another example of business identifying an interest in appropriate
land use regulation.
5
Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne of Sri Lanka’s largest development NGO (the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement) has
argued that trade environments are essential to the creation of resilient economies able to bounce back from
disasters.
6
See Daniels, Kettl, and Kunreuther, On Risk and Disaster
4. How much more effective is investment in mitigation versus response? Unfortunately, impact
and cost/benefit assessments remain extremely thin on the ground, but there is a growing
consensus in the field that the yield to many investments in risk mitigation is significantly
greater than that of similar investments in response and reconstruction.7 While business
contributions to response and relief are valuable, the greatest opportunities to make a
difference may lie in mitigation.
Significantly, these opportunities may also be sustainable. These actions are not tied to the
occurrence of a crisis, and they offer incentives, in the form of economic self-interest and
increased partnership with the public sector, that one might expect to be more sustainable
than the corporate philanthropic impulse.
Response and Relief
The bulk of the private sector’s participation in natural disaster management, to date, has
come during post-event response and relief in the form of cash, assets, and logistical support.
There is certainly room for more private sector engagement; and some estimates suggest that
corporate philanthropy in this area could increase from the current $1.5 billion per year to $10
billion or more.
Yet the activities available to businesses in this phase are inherently limited in scope. One
reason is perceptual: disaster response and relief will probably always be seen as a public
good, and people expect their governments to provide such services, as evidenced by the
response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. More practically, major catastrophes require a
coordinated response, and enterprising companies wishing to help are generally discouraged,
with good reason, from acting independently beyond the contribution of aid and resources to
primary response actors. Even businesses involved in core service provision (food, transport,
communications, power, etc.) are often not the most qualified providers of emergency
services, and their involvement in response will typically be managed by a dedicated
emergency response agency.
Finally, private sector involvement in relief and response is not particularly sustainable.
Contributions to these activities are primarily driven by philanthropic and humanitarian
concerns, and we have seen through the two South Asian disasters of the last 24 months
that factors such as donor fatigue and the vagaries of media coverage can affect the reliability
of private aid.
Yet we see increasingly significant and sustainable contributions being made by the private
sector to response, through investment in what might be called Readiness to Respond. There
is scope for greater involvement here, as private sector actors can play key roles in
developing and communicating response plans to employees and communities. And by
engaging in partnerships in advance of a catastrophe, business can draw not only on a sense
of social responsibility, but also its enlightened self-interest in minimising disruptions to local
economies and societies.
The United Nations and the World Economic Forum have partnered for the Humanitarian
Relief Initiative, which aims to systematically develop partnerships between humanitarian
actors and the private sector in which companies commit to make certain assets, skills or
other resources available on a standby basis for use by UN agencies during major
emergencies. As a first step, this Initiative is working with the UN World Food Programme,
which in collaboration with Citigroup, has created the WFP Corporate Emergency Alliance, a
corporate alliance for such standby private sector resource commitments. In this alliance, a
7
One USGS survey suggests an indicated 7:1 benefit:cost ratio for a global mitigation investment of
US $ 40 billion. See ProVention, ‘'Measuring Mitigation': Methodologies for assessing natural hazard
risks and the net benefits of mitigation - A scoping study / Synthesis report.’
5. network of corporate partners will contribute pre-identified high priority goods, such as
forklifts, cargo trucks and storage tents, which are needed in the first critical hours of an
emergency. WFP will establish agreements with companies willing to provide these assets
and by pre-positioning the goods ready for deployment will dramatically cut down on the
agency’s response time. Through this venture, corporate partners can contribute to
emergency relief and planning in an efficient and meaningful way on a global scale and they
have much more impact through collective action of this kind than if they had acted alone.
This partnership will enable more timely, effective private sector engagement as well as
increase the overall response capacity of the humanitarian system. The Humanitarian Relief
Initiative will be extended to work with additional UN agencies, in addition to the World Food
Programme, later this year.
Conclusion and Recommendation
To date, private sector involvement in natural disaster management has focused on response
and relief. While there is still great need for post-disaster aid, there appears to be even
greater scope for the extension of this engagement to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
Further, many risk-reducing opportunities offer the hope of better leveraging the broader
competencies of the private sector, improving effectiveness and return to resources invested.
These investments may also prove more sustainable, for they draw on a range of motivations
from private profit to public good and generate beneficial impacts over a longer period of time.
The private sector’s willingness to contribute to Tsunami relief and reconstruction has been
impressive and represents an important moment for the international humanitarian
community. Work must continue, however, to incorporate a vision of Disaster Risk Reduction
into the region’s recovery, and to engage the private sector in that work as much as possible.
Businesses operating in the affected regions must begin to look at their own risk exposure,
and to consider appropriate ways to reduce that exposure through appropriate investments in
hazard monitoring, risk mitigation, and resilience. Together with governmental and
intergovernmental actors the private sector must look for ways in which its own long-term self-
interest will be served by enlightened partnerships that mitigate potential consequences and
foster more resilient communities and economies.
Many governments and international NGOs have begun to look more carefully at DRR as an
important part of sustainable human development, many via adoption of the Hyogo
Framework for Action. The World Economic Forum has begun to explore, in collaboration with
governments, intergovernmental bodies and its private sector stakeholders, a programme for
developing Public-Private Partnerships for Disaster Risk Reduction. Whether or not DRR
initiatives would have decreased the devastation of December 2004 must remain a matter for
speculation, at least until thorough cost/benefit analyses have been performed. Nonetheless,
it seems clear that the opportunity to engage the private sector in DRR before such
devastation occurs again should not be missed.