Disaster Management: Private sector’s help sought in building resilience

Experts for creating resilience to help farmers; agree on need for engaging private sector

Small farmers, wageworkers and tenants in rural areas are the worst hit, prone to disasters due to climate change, according to a study report shared at a roundtable in Islamabad the other day.

They are in dire need of measures to rebuild and create resilience to respond to disaster, it added. The study suggested that private sector can play a vital role in helping communities in building resilience and in creating a win-win situation through establishing a reliable and sustainable value chain.

The roundtable was organised by Oxfam-Novib in collaboration with Indus Consortium on private sector role and launch of the “Resilience Scoping Study”, according to a press release.

The participants from media, academia, research institutes, civil society organisations, private and public sectors stressed the need for engaging private sector in mitigation and disaster management.

The study findings mention lack of awareness about impacts of disaster and climate change on their business.

The participants also stressed the need for strategic partnership between disadvantaged communities and companies for resilient supply chain.

Sharing key findings of the study, Sabina Ahmed identified challenges and difficulties for small farmers and disadvantaged communities regarding climate calamites and impact of extreme weather conditions on their lives.

Pakistan being an agro-based economy makes it extremely vulnerable to effects of climate change, said Ahmed. She said the country was at risk of natural disasters like cyclones, floods, landslides, earthquake and droughts.

The study explores current situation as well as potential for private sector resilience in selected value chains in Punjab and Sindh, she added.

They said that companies have an important role in building resilience not only because it threatens their core operations but also because it provides market opportunities for profit making. However, there is a lack of understanding and research on how private sector can and should be an integral part of these efforts, speakers added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2015.