Dear colleagues
I’m writing to ask for your advice and help.
I’ve just started work on a new research project, funded by DFID, on The
Private Sector and Natural Disaster Reduction. Basically, it is a
preliminary investigation of the private sector’s involvement in natural
disaster preparedness and mitigation work through its social responsibility
and philanthropic programmes. A short outline of the project is enclosed
at the end of this message that tells you more about what we are trying to
do.
Very little has been written about this topic, and there are few documented
case studies. I would welcome your help in directing me to (1)
documentation and (2) key informants (in the private sector and other
organisations). If you know of anything, or anybody, please let me know!
At this stage of the research we are interested in evidence from anywhere
in the world.
As we have donor deadlines to meet, it would be good to receive your
suggestions as soon as convenient.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best wishes
John Twigg
Hon. Research Fellow, Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, University
College London
[project outline follows]
The Private Sector and Natural Disaster Reduction – a preliminary
investigation
A research project of the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, University
College London
Funder: Department for International Development (DFID) ESCOR Programme
(project no. R7893)
Duration: April 2001 – September 2002
Outline:
The private sector’s involvement in natural disaster reduction through its
social responsibility/philanthropic programmes has not been researched,
especially in developing countries. This project will look at the nature
of such involvement, and lay the foundations for further research and
practical initiatives involving the sector.
The project is a preliminary investigation, at global level and in five
South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
It will concentrate on the formal sector and take a particular interest in
pre-disaster preparedness and mitigation. The research questions focus on
the process of private sector involvement and its results. Evidence will
be collected by desk research, and correspondence and interviews with key
informants in the private sector and partner agencies.
Project outputs will be: a global overview, research reports from the five
South Asian countries, a set of case studies and a statement of key issues
arising from the research and their implications for future work in this
area. All of these documents will be posted on the Benfield Greig Hazard
Research Centre’s website (http://www.bghrc.com).
The research team is: Dr John Twigg (Benfield Greig Hazard Research
Centre: project team leader), Madhavi Ariyabandu (Intermediate Technology
Development Group, Sri Lanka), Mihir Bhatt (Disaster Mitigation Institute,
India), Deep Narsingh Karki (Organisation Development Centre, Nepal), Foqia
Sadiq Khan (Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan), Nilufar
Matin (independent researcher, Bangladesh) and Anshu Sharma (Sustainable
Environment and Ecological Development Society, India).
Help in identifying documents and key informants is welcome – please
contact John Twigg ([log in to unmask]).
1/5/01
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