UNDP/OCHA Connecting Business initiative

The Connecting Business initiative (CBi) engages the private sector strategically before, during and after emergencies, increasing the scale and effectiveness of the response and recovery in a coordinated manner. Since CBi’s launch at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, CBi Member Networks have responded to 132 crises, mobilized US $91 million and assisted mor than 23 million people. A joint initiative by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), CBi supports both crisis response and development efforts by integrating and engaging the private sector. As the world continues to see more severe and frequent disasters, the crucial role the private sector plays in disaster management has become more apparent.

CBi works directly with business federations around the world, reaching more than 275,000 local businesses through our local networks. The initiative aims to become the go-to hub for business networks involved in disaster management, both by strengthening collaboration with governments, development partners and humanitarian actors and by contributing to the efforts to save the lives and livelihoods of people affected by crisis in vulnerable countries.