Focus on Role & Responsibilities
of the Corporate Sector
Mumbai, India November 16-18, 2005
Mumbai Declaration
We, the delegates, of the "World Conference on Disaster Reduction : Focus on Roles and Responsibilities of the Corporate Sector," have gathered in Mumbai, India from 16th to 18th November 2005. This conference proceeds from the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan in January 2005. The Mumbai conference advances the objectives of the Hyogo Framework of Action with particular reference to the corporate sector as a major stakeholder. Over 350 delegates from 22 countries with multi-disciplinary backgrounds, but sharing common interest in reducing losses due to disasters, participated in the conference.
The conference took stock of current disaster management scenarios, and also identified the limitations and continuing challenges. The respective roles of all stakeholders: the governments, civil society, corporate sector, academic institutions and the public were reviewed during the conference.
We, the delegates of the conference, recognize that the corporate sector is a key constituent of the global economy, society and polity and hence can significantly reinforce disaster reduction initiatives. Consequently, there is a need for the corporate sector to work in tandem with governments, international organizations, non-governmental and community based organizations for effective and efficient disaster reduction.
We, the delegates of this conference, declare the following:
1. We are dedicated in our efforts for disaster reduction and shall continue working in this direction. In furtherance of this effort, we are committed to expanded collaboration among different stakeholders.
2. While we recognize the primary responsibility of the governments in disaster reduction, we realize that considering the nature of disasters, their frequency and their complexity, the involvement of corporate sector in disaster reduction makes good business sense. The development of suitable institutional mechanisms with sound legal framework is necessary to facilitate Public-Private Partnership. The corporate sector engagement is essential for the success of disaster reduction efforts.
3. The involvement of corporate sector in disaster reduction is a sound business proposition and also enables the corporate sector to demonstrate commitment to humanitarian concerns as responsible corporate citizens.
4. The information and communications technologies (ICT) have a critical role in facilitating disaster management in a transparent and effective manner. The corporate sector has a key role in facilitating the use of ICT for disaster management.
5. We resolve and propose to engage in a sustained process for the establishment of Platform for Public-Private Partnership (P4PPP) and the development of following products:
a. Checklist and Guidelines for Chief Executive Officers
(CEOs).
b. Diary of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for corporate executives
on disaster preparedness and response.
c. Reference manual on disaster management for the corporate sector.
d. Corporate-community interface handbook on disaster and environmental
management.
6. We further propose to engage into a process of sharing, dissemination and application of these documents through the Platform for Public-Private Partnership (P4PPP.)
Given the rapidly increasing susceptibility of communities to disaster risk, the conference calls for more focused, sustained and committed efforts from all stakeholders to move towards the vision of more resilient and safer society.
In pursuance of this objective, such conferences will
be held on an annual basis, in co-operation with GFDR and other stakeholders
in order to take stock of the progress and to help set goals and directions
for the future.
