Interest in the role of business in sustainable and equitable development
has grown in recent years, but disaster mitigation and preparedness have
scarcely featured in the debate. There have been some calls for greater
private sector involvement but little attempt to explain what role it might
play.
A research team managed by the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre has
just completed a study of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this
area. It found little business engagement and many factors inhibiting
business commitment, but concludes that further development is possible if
a pragmatic, experience-based and long-term approach is taken.
All of the project’s outputs are online, at:
http://www.bghrc.com/DMU/DMUSetup/Projects/corp.htm
They comprise seven research reports (a global overview and six studies
from five disaster-prone South Asian countries), and a set of conclusions
and recommendations for future action.
Anyone interested in taking this work forward through further research or
practical initiatives is invited to contact the project team leader, Dr
John Twigg, Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, University College
London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK (email [log in to unmask])
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