ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: IOM today organized a Public-Private Partnership roundtable discussion at the Avari hotel in Karachi on joint humanitarian action.
The discussion brought together key players in the private sector and technical experts from IOM to discuss past experiences and explore future partnership possibilities.
IOM has worked with private sector donors in Pakistan since the 2005 earthquake and supports private sector aid efforts, notably by providing coordination, information management and technical expertise.
Ideas discussed at the roundtable included the improvement of disaster early warning systems; early recovery shelter; disaster risk reduction trainings for community groups; community infrastructure rehabilitation; livelihoods; humanitarian communications; health; and counter human trafficking initiatives.
“The private sector in Pakistan is well-resourced and active in responding to humanitarian needs across the country. The connections built today will allow the private sector to access technical expertise and information on standards, programmes and international best practices, helping to target their resources towards the people who need it the most,” says Ayesha Hasan, IOM Pakistan’s Private Sector Liaison Officer.
IOM has launched a series of disaster relief and recovery programmes in Pakistan since 2005. The most recent was its response to the 2011 floods, which affected over 5 million people in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. It is currently seeking funds to scale up early recovery programmes and help communities to prepare for the 2012 monsoon season.