Network Foundation Guide

By understanding the existing of efforts of in-country stakeholders involved in DRM, private sector networks will be better able to assess gaps in private sector engagement and the potential for a network to add value.  This chapter will guide you through a process to landscape existing private sector DRM efforts in your country through desk research and consultation.  Through this landscaping process, networks will be able to identify specific needs, map them against existing efforts, and pinpoint gaps that still exist. Networks may also choose to use these resources to periodically update their landscape map as private sector engagement efforts in your country evolve.  

 

Note that completing the process described in this chapter relies on meeting with and gathering input from a variety of stakeholders to map their key activities, areas of expertise, and needs.  This can take time and multiple iterations to complete and to keep up-to-date. It should be considered an important ongoing part of the due diligence that should be completed before launching a network.  This landscaping should also be kept up-to-date as new information arises and as new actors come on the scene, to avoid having to conduct a major comprehensive refresh more frequently.

 

The resources in this chapter will help answer the following questions

1. How can I best identify key stakeholders and actors in my country?

2. Who are the key private sector actors in my country, and how are they engaged in DRM?

3. Are there existing private sector networks in my country, and how are they engaged in DRM?

4. What key government agencies are involved in DRM in my country and what is their current engagement with the private sector?

5. What are the key UN agencies and NGOs involved in DRM in my country and what is their current engagement with the private sector?

6. Are there any other key actors in my country engaged in DRM and what is their engagement with the private sector?​

7. What are the gaps in private sector engagement in my country? What role could a private sector network play in the humanitarian space?

8. What are the core legal and regulatory frameworks to be aware of that might impact private sector engagement in DRM?

5. What are the key UN agencies and NGOs involved in DRM in my country and what is their current engagement with the private sector?

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<<EXAMPLE UN/NGO ACTORS>>

 

Depending on your particular country, there may be a huge range of UN and NGO humanitarian actors already operating in your area.  Identifying those UN bodies or humanitarian organizations who are already engaged in disaster risk management activities, or who have relevant expertise to bring to your network's members, can be challenging but is a critical step in identifying potential partners and avoiding duplication of existing efforts.

 

Rather than attempting to identify all UN agencies and NGOs involved in disaster response, it is initially more important to identify a set of key working partners with the following capabilities:

• Strong established working relationships with other key actors (UN, government, private sector)

• Clear expertise in an area relevant to disaster preparedness, response or recovery (e.g. familiarity with emergency response techniques, business continuity planning, or specific aspects of DRM, such as clean water or camp management)

• Sufficient interest and capacity to support your network with content, trainings or other types of support for your members

• Strong links to other active organizations in the country (umbrella organizations like the Humanitarian / UN Country Team or major NGO/CSO networks in the region)

 

As a starting point, in most contexts the key actors will include a combination of:

• United Nations agencies, for example:

  • OCHA: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

  • UNDP: United National Development Programme

  • UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund

  • WFP: World Food Programme

  • UNHCR: United Nations High Commission for Refugees

  • WHO: World Health Organization

  • FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization

• Non-governmental organizations, such as:

  • IFRC and Red Cross: The International Federation of the Red Cross, the Red Crescent movement and its national societies

  • MSF: Medecins San Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)

  • Save the Children

  • Oxfam

  • CARE

  • MercyCorps

  • World Vision

  • International Rescue Committee

  • Local civil society organizations (e.g. professional associations, community organizations, Rotary Clubs, etc.)

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<<CONSULTING WITH UN/NGO ACTORS>>

 

During your consultation with UN and NGO actors, some key topics to cover include::

• Their role in humanitarian actions in the country

• Their current activities with the private sector (examples: engagement with key private sector companies on corporate social responsibility, partnerships with private sector foundations, activities related to SMEs or value chains linked to global companies, programming focused on company or social resilience)

• Who their private sector partners are

• Who their other partners are (e.g. government, academia, UN/NGO)

• Their view on how the private sector can best contribute to disaster risk management in your country

• What national discussions they are currently conducting or engaged in on topics related to resilience, disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery

• What challenges they have experienced in past or current engagements with DRM, and any gaps that they have identified that a private sector network could address

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<<SUPPORTING MATERIAL>>

 

Link to downloadable Landscaping Interview Guides for each key stakeholder type