THE DISASTER RESOURCE NETWORK (DRN): AN ENGINEERING-CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS

DRN Finds New Home At the World Economic Forum

Effective June 2008, the Disaster Resource Network will operate out of the World Economic Forum as part of its Engineering and Construction Industry Partnership Program. The move will complement the Forum's Humanitarian Relief Initiative a collaboration with the United Nations to provide logistical support and other private sector assistance to countries impacted by natural disaster. (Prior to this DRN operated as an independent Swiss-registered charity founded by the World Economic Forum.)

As part of the Industry Partnership Program, the Forum hopes to increase the participation of global engineering and construction companies and to build the DRN brand. Under the new framework, the Forum invites non-member companies to direct their support to DRN country affiliate chapters, such as those established in India and Mexico. DRN governance will rest with Forum partner companies. Access to DRN Global and associated benefits will be reserved for Forum member companies and its corporate partners.

Stay up to date on DRN operations and the Forum's Humanitarian Relief Initiative by visiting http://www.weforum.org. To request information please email drn@weforum.org.

How to Engage?

Industry Partners from the engineering and construction sector that wish to participate in the DRN can appoint a senior company executive to represent the company in the Project Steering Board. That person is tasked to:

be a “champion” for the project and its objectives, by taking a lead role in shaping the agenda for the different work streams and by speaking at Forum and related event
identify a designate person within his/her organization who is able to act as a day-to-day contact point and provide meaningful input to the work within one or more work streams
participate in steering board teleconferences, or delegate to his/her designate as appropriate

For more information and future updates on DRN, please visit drn@weforum.org.

Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar

Cylcone Nargis, a Category 3 storm struck Myanmar (formerly Burma) devastating the coastal delta of Irrawaddy on May 2^nd and 3^rd. The current death toll of 22,000 is expected to rise dramatically once response and assessment teams reach the most affected areas. DRN response efforts will be coordinated by country affiliate office DRN-India in concert with logistical support from World Economic Forum's Humanitarian Relief Initiative (a partnership with the UN-World Food). For more information, please visit drn@weforum.org.

Cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh

On the evening of November 15th, Cyclone Sidr, a category 4 storm, struck the coast of Bangladesh, making land fall on the offshore islands and then sweeping east to west across the southern coast. Reaching wind speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour, Sidr caused extensive damage to the southern districts as it moved north across central Bangladesh. The full scale of this disaster will become evident as access to the affected locales improves in the coming days. Read more...

DRN-Global and DRN-Mexico Respond To Tabasco and Chiapas Floods

After a week of heavy rainfalls beginning on October 28^th, flood waters ravaged the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, affecting some one million people in Tabasco and submerging 80% of the state. Its capital city of Villahermosa (population 600,000) was among the hardest hit. Read More…

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School Reconstruction Project, Peru

On August 15th, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Pacific Coast of Peru, severely damaging the infrastructure of Pisco, Chincha and a number of surrounding communities. In total some 70% of the homes, small businesses and schools were destroyed or seriously impacted. In response, DRN, Mercy Corps USA and Soluciones Prácticas (www.solucionespracticas.org.pe), a prominent Peruvian based disaster mitigation program, have joined forces to rehabilitate/rebuild five local schools using seismic-resistant designs, local materials and community labor. The project will benefit the families of Canete and Sunampe. A generous grant from Cofra Holding AG will underwrite project costs. Temporary classrooms with proper water and sanitation facilities have been installed to serve 500 children until repairs and reconstruction are completed in the spring of 2008.

The International Center for Enterprise Preparedness

The International Center for Enterprise Preparedness (InterCEP) cites the Disaster Resource Network as one of six prototypes for engaging the private sector in disaster response. InterCEP, part of New York University's Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response, is the world's first major academic center dedicated to the study of private sector crisis management and business continuity. See full report.

View Presentation: DRN's Response to South Asia Earthquake

When disaster strikes, the survivability of critical civil infrastructure may be the single most important factor in saving lives and restoring local economies.

The Disaster Resource Network (DRN) is unique in its focus on the civil infrastructure dimensions of disaster response and preparedness. DRN works with the humanitarian assistance sector, public agencies and the engineering-construction industry on a global scale:

providing a knowledge base on the civil infrastructure dimensions of disaster response and risk reduction
identifying industry-specific project opportunities for public-private partnership
developing and sharing best practices for the protection of civil infrastructure
advancing local disaster preparedness and response capacity in disaster prone countries

The thoughtful and collaborative engagement of the private sector and international response community,

increases the overall effectiveness of disaster management
decreases risks to business operations
accelerates economic recovery and reinvestment
establishes goodwill in new and existing markets

DRN is guided by the knowledge that disaster response is most effective when,

strategically linked to the expertise and experience of the humanitarian assistance sector
organized in advanced and sustained with adequate resources
directed at local capacity building in disaster prone countries
rooted in a framework that acknowledges the inter-dependence of risk reduction, relief, recovery and reconstruction
driven by clearly established needs in the field
consistent with international codes and standards
based on the advancement of best practices
accountable to beneficiaries and partners
transparent in all actions

DRN MISSION

The Disaster Resource Network (DRN) organizes and mobilizes the resources of the international engineering-construction industry to reduce the vulnerabilities and rebuild the lives and livelihoods of those affected by natural disasters.

DRN PURPOSE

DRN helps engineering-construction companies translate their core competencies into specific disaster response and mitigation activities that fill identified gaps in the field. These strategic partnerships add value to the broader international response effort and provide participating businesses an alternative for meeting corporate social responsibility commitments.

In all aspects of its work, DRN adheres to the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's Code of Conduct.

DUE DILIGENCE

The success of DRN's work depends upon the people, companies and organizations with whom we partner. When disaster strikes, decisions must be made in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. Strong due diligence procedures must be in place to ensure the integrity of these decisions.

To protect the interests of our partners and the people we collectively serve, DRN benefits from the pro bono services of IntegraScreen, a global provider of information and research products designed to help its clients meet the standards and legal requirements that govern their work.