Today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced pilot projects with the private sector in the Republic of Indonesia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Caribbean countries, to advance innovative solutions to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters. These projects are aimed at helping the humanitarian community understand how the private sector can make investments to mitigate the risk of disasters; increase businesses’ participation in community disaster-preparedness plans and policies; help reduce the social and economic impact of disasters; and support communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild after disaster strikes.

These USAID-funded pilot programs will help governments and civil society develop stronger relationships with private-sector actors and develop mutually beneficial projects that strengthen the resilience of entire communities. The pilot programs include the following:

• Indonesia: Miyamoto International will work to strengthen the private-sector’s preparedness for earthquakes and other natural disasters, and integrate the business community into national and local planning to mitigate their social and economic impact.
• Vietnam: The Asia Foundation, in partnership with ISET International, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and the Vietnam Institute for Development Strategy (VIDS), will bring together key private-sector, local government, and civil-society actors to design collaboratively and launch multi-stakeholder pilot projects to strengthen flood-mitigation efforts and improve the management of water networks in the coastal city of Quy Nhơn, in Bình Định Province.
• Caribbean: The Global Knowledge Initiative, with support from 1Row, will work to increase private-sector engagement and investment in efforts to reduce the risk of disasters and improve the response to them. This pilot will help channel private-sector contributions to disaster-preparedness by helping companies recognize that disaster-resilient communities help their bottom lines.

USAID responds to an average of 75 disasters in more than 70 countries every year. Through collaboration with the private sector, USAID can harness innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship to improve the efficiency of humanitarian assistance. To learn more about USAID’s work with the private sector, visit USAID/Private Sector Engagement.