Hard realities and future necessities: the role of the private sector in humanitarian efforts

“Coordination, cooperation, has been perhaps the thing that
has most struck me on my travels. And I would say, on the basis
that I represent a number of charities, many of whom are
specialists in a field which are all aiming to do the same thing -
which is to benefit the people at the end of natural and manmade
disasters - and part of my travels and observations would
be, that we could all do a lot better if we were a bit more
joined up in our approach and response.”
“The underlying feature, in the link with the private sector, is
that these people are volunteers from the private sector - when
we talk about the contribution of the private sector, it has been
considerable because volunteers so often have come from the
private sector and still are. And it’s that connection which has
been hugely important in growing the network of support, not
just in countries where NGOs are based but in the countries
where they go to. Encouraging private sector volunteers - specialist
knowledge volunteers - in country, brings in the private
sector in the earliest possible stages, so that is part of our private
sector cooperation, that is part of our private sector link.
They support the volunteers, they allow them to go, and for
many of those with professional specialist backgrounds, that is
quite a contribution for the private sector to do already.”