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?

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

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<<EXAMPLES OF ACTORS>>

 

Although the Government, UN, NGOs and other private sector actors/networks will most likely be the key actors involved in DRM activities in your country, in many contexts there are other actors who play a critical role. For example:

• Academic institutions and partners: Potential partners for technical expertise, convening power and language translation services 

• Think tanks: Potentially helpful in understanding regulatory or legal implications, technical expertise or for convening a broad range of stakeholders

• Individuals, organizations or institutions with specialized expertise and products: Particularly for specific DRM-related expertise, such as water or sanitation in emergency contexts, immediate disaster response activities, etc.

• Development banks: Potential sources of funding for specific resilience activities, or sources of expertise for other development or resilience related activities

 

These actors can also become valuable partners if the network is created. Therefore, you may wish to identify and consult with additional actors in your country that are engaged in disaster risk management and may prove a valuable partner.

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<<CONSULTING WITH OTHER KEY ACTORS>>

 

During your consultation with them, some key topics to cover include:

• Their current activities with the private sector

• Who their private sector partners are

• Who their Government/UN/NGO partners are

• Their relevant area of expertise or interest related to disaster preparedness or response

• What they think the core needs are from the private sector in DRM activities

• 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>>

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Link to downloadable Landscaping Interview Guides for each key stakeholder type

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