Private Sector

Why the private sector?

A private sector committed to disaster risk reduction can steer public demand towards materials, systems and technological solutions to build and run resilient communities. The private sector can make communities safer and more resilient by setting standards and quality assurance criteria for safer structures in urban areas, investing in programmes or individual country and community risk reduction efforts, providing expertise to help with administration, internal business processes, and external disaster risk assessments, and acting as a wellspring for socially responsible volunteers and funding.

How we work with the private sector?

We work with members of the private sector who are taking the lead in ensuring the safety of long-term investments and planning ahead to protect industry and society from disasters, economic disruptions while ensuring business continuity.

UNISDR also works with business taking an active interest in investing more in human, technical and financial resources to build the resilience of nations and communities, and using core business arrangements, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility to support communities, local and national governments as well as international organizations in saving lives and livelihoods.

UNISDR DRR Private Sector Partnership

To increasingly involve the private sector in disaster risk reduction by mobilizing resources through core business arrangements for joint actions, sustainability/corporate social responsibility (CSR), philanthropy and knowledge transfer, UNISDR created a Disaster Risk Reduction Private Sector Partnership (DRR-PSP) Working Group. The DRR-PSP establishes the foundation for building disaster risk reduction through private sector partnerships. Investing in disaster risk reduction offers a triple return by ensuring business continuity, safeguarding long-term investments, and protecting employees, their families, communities and environments.

• DRR-PSP Workspace: Click here to enter the workspace
• Members of the DRR-PSP: See who's on the membership list
• Want to join the DRR-PSP? Click here to learn more
• For further information, please contact UNISDR's private sector focal point: Kiki Lawal (ISDR-PSP@un.org)

Our Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG)

The PSAG is an invitation-only group. A majority of the members are from the private sector with a some members also from foundations and governments. As an advisory group, the PSAG represents the wider private sector and works with UNISDR to address disaster risk reduction in the sector. Current members of the PSAG are shown below.

PSAG members can login to the private workspace on PreventionWeb here.

Private sector statement by the PSAG at the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, May 2011.

Public-private Partnerships News
Sendai welcomes next World Conference on DRR 23 May 2013
Global Platform calls for immediate start on developing targets for risk reduction 23 May 2013
Government ministers call for support to disaster-proof schools and hospitals at Global Platform 22 May 2013

View more UNISDR Public-private Partnerships news

Public-private Partnerships Documents
Making cities resilient summary for policymakers: a global snapshot of how local governments reduce risk SOURCE: UNISDR 2013
Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction 2013 SOURCE: UNISDR 2013
Evidence, monthly UNISDR newsletter: issue 16, April 2013 SOURCE: UNISDR 2013

View more UNISDR Public-private Partnerships documents

View Public-private Partnerships documents on PreventionWeb