Disaster Management
Introduction
Disaster Resource Partnership
The Engineering & Construction Disaster Resource Partnership (DRP) is a new model for coordinated private sector partnership in response to natural disasters. It has been developed through case studies of past private sector interventions, numerous workshops and interviews with key humanitarian actors in disasters, and has benefited from continuous input and direction by the working group executives of the World Economic Forum’s Engineering and Construction (E&C) Member and Partner companies.
To reduce suffering and save lives, the vision of the DRP is to form an ongoing collaboration with the humanitarian community at the global level, and government and other key humanitarian actors at the national level, to optimize the core strengths and capacities of the E&C community before, during and after natural rapid-onset disasters.
Construction companies located in disaster-affected areas have assets that can be invaluable to humanitarian and government relief organizations. These can be tangible assets, including stockpiled food, water and shelter materials (such as tarpaulins, timber, scaffolding, galvanized sheeting and sand bags), equipment for moving debris, vehicles to assist in distribution of food and water, and generators and fuel to provide power as well as transport to affected areas. They can also provide skilled personnel to coordinate activities in addition to satellite communication equipment and office space to facilitate coordination, space for community shelters and storage space for materials at construction sites.
Construction companies can also offer a number of intangible assets that can be extremely useful to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and humanitarian agencies. These can include networks (with local government, construction companies, manufacturers and communities) and access to existing supply chains for the procurement of additional materials, all of which are invaluable to humanitarian organizations frequently operating in an unfamiliar environment.
The DRP model provides several benefits for the humanitarian community, including government involvement in managing humanitarian crises: it offers greater access to local and international expertise and resources, enhanced and accelerated scale-up capacity, and better mechanisms to monitor accountability and value for money.
The model makes it possible to develop a common language, raise awareness, share learning and engage in disaster prevention and preparedness that will further leverage the assets of the E&C community for humanitarian benefit. The partnership is also designed to create a longer-term solution by exploring how the private sector can engage professionally – not merely charitably – in the humanitarian field.
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Logistics Emergency Teams
Logistics Emergency Teams deploy worldwide upon request from the United Nations Global Logistics Cluster. 
Logistics Emergency Teams are provided pro bono by Agility, AP Möller-Maersk, TNT and UPS, four leading logistics companies. Facilitated by the World Economic Forum, the companies joined forces to help the humanitarian sector with emergency response to large-scale natural disasters.
Logistics Emergency Teams (LETs) have a solid track record of deployments, on the basis of agreed mechanisms and strong relationships with the UN's Global Logistics Cluster, led by the World Food Programme (WFP).
LET support through pre-agreed operating procedures and training includes provision of:
- Logistics specialists (e.g. airport coordinators, airport managers and warehouse managers)
- Logistics assets (e.g. warehouses, trucks, forklifts)
- Logistics services (e.g. airlift, trucking, customs management)
In 2008-2010, LET deployed in Chile, Haiti, Indonesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan and the Philippines. Around 100 trained volunteers are currently on standby.
World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Disaster Management
The first decade of this millennium has shown very clearly that natural hazards present a very real and hugely underestimated danger to international peace and security, particularly in vulnerable communities with low resistance to shock events. Natural hazards not only lead to loss of precious human lives, enormous material damage, and major displacement but also significantly disrupt business activity making huge negative impacts on the community. We therefore have to invest together – important efforts in enhancing resilience of local communities, provincial authorities and central government to these natural hazards.
The Global Agenda Council on Disaster Management seeks to further explore an approach to resilience that links SMEs to a network of companies at the national, regional and international level. The rationale is that by establishing public-private partnership platforms, local government, together with SMEs and local communities could move faster to a more comprehensive recovery.
Innovations in Corporate Global Citizenship: Responding to the Haiti Earthquake
The unparalleled disaster in Haiti required an unprecedented response. In the following report we present examples of corporate global citizenship in Haiti following the tragic earthquake of 12 January 2010. The purpose of doing so is to highlight the increasing role of the private sector in contributing to innovations in humanitarian assistance through tri-sector partnerships. We also identify remaining gaps and hope that this report, through raising awareness of these gaps, will help to eliminate them as responses to future disasters.
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January 24, 2011
Engineering & Construction Disaster Resource Partnership - A New Private-Public Partnership Model for Disaster Response
This report summarizes an ongoing effort by the World Economic Forum to serve as a catalyst for greater private sector involvement in responding to natural disasters. Although it is generally recognized that the private sector has an important role to play in addressing the increasing socio-economic consequences of disasters, there has been relatively little effort to understand the potential for contributions by specific industries, or to develop models of engagement that recognize the need for local action and ownership while being replicable, scalable and justifiable in business terms.This...
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December 22, 2010
A New Private-Public Partnership Model for Disaster Response
This report is part of an on-going effort by the World Economic Forum to serve as a catalyst for greater private sector involvement in responding to natural disasters. Though it is generally recognized that the private sector has an important role to play in addressing the increasing socio-economic consequences of disasters, there has been relatively little effort to understand the potential for contributions by specific industries, or to develop models of engagement that recognize the need for local action and ownership while being replicable, scalable and justifiable in business terms....
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December 17, 2010
Global Agenda Council on Humanitarian Assistance - Perspectives
Read the perspectives of experts who are members of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Humanitarian Assistance 2010 on ways to improve the response to disasters.
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December 17, 2010
Corporate Global Citizenship
The license to operate in a global market and to make profits entails a responsibility of being engaged in society.How should a company engage in society? And, what framework should guide that engagement?The World Economic Forum and its leading partners have been working together to develop answers to these pressing issues.Key Endeavors Include: Professor Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman and Founder of the World Economic Forum, published an article on Working with Governments and Civil Society in Foreign Affairs journal, To help businesses better coordinate their approaches and...
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November 10, 2010
World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010
Leaders examined regional governance and international cooperation towards trade integration, enhanced security and environmental performance. Regional leaders from different sectors also focused on specific problems affecting Latin America, which include the international community’s initiatives to rebuild Haiti and reconstruction efforts in Chile after earthquakes in both countries.
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November 4, 2010
Global Risks
In an interdependent, fast-moving world, organizations are increasingly confronted by risks that are complex in nature and global in consequence. Such risks can be difficult to anticipate and respond to, even for the most seasoned business leaders.The World Economic Forum’s Risk Response Network provides leaders from the private and public sectors with an independent platform to map, monitor and mitigate global risks.Its annual Global Risks Report analyses the perceived impact and likelihood of 50 prevalent global risks over a ten year time horizon. The 50 global risks are divided into five...
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November 2, 2010
Realizing the Potential of Public-Private Partnership Projects in Water
The World Economic Forum’s Water Initiative first began in 2003, thanks to a farsighted collaboration with Alcan and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The focus was on creating multistakeholder networks to facilitate the development of public-private water projects that help meet the needs for all stakeholders. Much effort was spent in the initial stage investigating the market for – and raising awareness about – the potential for innovative public-private partnerships in water. The interesting challenge now lies in how to build upon the advances that have been made to drive...
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October 24, 2010
Global Health
Health is one of the World Economic Forum’s key focus areas as it is directly aligned with the Forum’s mission: Committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in shaping the global, regional and industry agendas. The Forum focuses on three key health-related activities: advocacy, dialogue and action through partnership.The Forum recognises health as an important part of long-term economic development and engages its members and other stakeholders to advocate health as an investment.Health is an issue that involves multiple stakeholders – intergovernmental organisations,...
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October 20, 2010
Water
Local Water Crises ACT: Analysis Country-level Work and Engaging GovernmentsWater SecurityA note about the 2030 Water Resources Group Water security (whether it be the challenge of too little water over long periods of time, or too much water all at once) is one of the most tangible and fastest-growing social, political and economic challenges faced today. It is also a fast-unfolding environmental crisis. In every sector, the demand for water is expected to increase and analysis suggests that the world will face a 40% global shortfall between forecast demand and available...
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October 19, 2010
New Horizons for Haiti
The devastating earthquake on 12 January played havoc with Haiti's already fragile economy and weak public institutions.
How can Latin American states and private companies help Haiti to engage in long-term reconstruction efforts and employment strategies?
Simultaneous interpretation in English, Spanish and Portuguese
This session will be webcast and on the record.
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April 8, 2010
Revamping Development Aid
Revamping Development AidDespite the official global development aid commitment of US$ 150 billion in 2010 of bilateral and multilateral donors, the architecture for development aid remains inefficient.How should the architecture for international aid be redesigned?Key Points• Genuine sustainable development is only achievable through growth, and the right environment to attract investment must be created• Responsibility for performance must be placed firmly on recipient countries, but they must also be empowered to take ownership of development projects• New emerging donors ...
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January 28, 2010
Special Session on Haiti
The devastating earthquake on 12 January reminds us of the common humanity that we all share.
Join this session on how business can help Haiti over the long term
Simultaneous interpretation in all languages
This session is open to the reporting press.
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January 28, 2010
Rethinking Humanitarian Assistance: Implications for Haiti
Rethinking Humanitarian Assistance: Implications for HaitiMajor disasters over the last several years (including the 2004 tsunami and 2005 Pakistan earthquake) have taught valuable lessons on the role of prevention, better coordination and the effective use of the private sector.Are these lessons being applied in Haiti?Key Points• The disaster in Haiti is the first mega-humanitarian crisis in an urban setting• Cooperation and coordination among humanitarian and development agencies are improving• National and local capacities to deal with natural disasters should be ...
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January 28, 2010
Haiti: First Responders Back from the Front Line
Haiti: First Responders Back from the Front LineThe crisis in Haiti has required an unprecedented effort by humanitarian organizations and the private sector to save lives and re-establish critical communication and supply links.How do first responders just back from Haiti see the current situation today the prospects for the future?Key Points• This is the first mega-humanitarian crisis to strike an urban environment. The capital of one of the world’s poorest nations has been completely destroyed and with it the nerve centre of government. The sheer scale of the destruction of the ...
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January 27, 2010
The Future of Development Assistance
The Future of Development Assistance• Nancy Birdsall • Nita M. Lowey • Wendy Luhabe• Sadako Ogata • Hina Rabbani KharModerated by • Barbara Stocking Thursday 29 January14.30-15.30The all-female panel discussed problems facing development assistance, including obstacles to improving the plight of women and girls – “the bulk of the world’s poor”. A conventional assumption that development assistance should go through governments was debated, along with the role of the private sector, the impact of corruption and other issues.Key issues• Successful development assistance puts the ...
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January 29, 2009
Making Aid Profitable
Making Aid ProfitableThe surest way to enhance the lives of people is through economic growth, which has been directly responsible for an estimated 80% of global poverty reduction in the past three decades. This suggests that stimulating business, entrepreneurship and investment is the best way to spend aid money.Some participants felt uneasy with the title of the session – Making Aid Profitable – because of the implication that donor aid should be directly leveraged for profit, rather than helping to create an enabling environment in which the private sector can operate to the general ...
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June 5, 2008
