Indonesia experiences an increase in the number of disasters every year, including the COVID-19 pandemic which affects society, its social life and economy, including the private sector, and put them under constant threat. To survive, it is essential that they can build resilience by implementing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) efforts.
The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Indonesia together with Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN) held Private Sector Leaders Forum 2022 under the theme of DRR Action and Collaboration for Social and Economic Resilience which is a series of activities of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022 at the Keraton Ballroom Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Bali, May 24, 2022. This event aimed to share experiences on how businesses individually or collaboratively carry out the DRR initiatives and to encourage the collaboration of multi-stakeholder and business in Indonesia as well as across countries.
“The private sector is expected to be one of the main actors driving DRR. The ultimate goal is to build social and economic resilience through a multi-stakeholder collaboration platform. Disasters will always be near us, collective management is the key,” said Sinta Kaniawati, Director of A-PAD Indonesia.
This event is fully supported by the Indonesian government through the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Japanese government through the Embassy of Japan for the Republic of Indonesia.
“The private sector has an important role in the economic development through its business activities and great commitment to disaster management. The Indonesian government through the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs provides full support for private sector collaboration in increasing the DRR efforts,” said DR. Ir. Wahyu Utomo. MS
“The Japanese government, apart from providing full support, also shares experience and knowledge on how successful the implementation of DRR through the involvement and collaboration of the private sector” said Masami Tamura, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan for the Republic of Indonesia.
The commitment of the private sector to actualize social and economic resilience is also in line with the target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Big targets such as ending poverty, industrial development and the emergence of various innovations as well as sustainable infrastructure and community development cannot be separated from the role of multi-stakeholder collaboration both in Indonesia and across countries by carrying out the DRR initiatives as an effort towards a big vision of holistic development, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The UN Global Compact has taken plenty actions to support collaboration between companies to create a greater impact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption issues aimed at the environment and the surrounding community.” Said Neha Das, Senior Manager, Global Operations, Asia & Oceania UN Global Compact.
On the same occasion, a joint declaration of the DRR Action and Collaboration from the private sector and civil society will be held and carry out intentions and real steps to encourage efforts and implement collaboration between private sector entities and other stakeholders, at local, regional and international levels to strengthen DRR as a deterrent and decrement the impact of disasters in actualizing resilience and socio-economic growth of the community, as well as achieving the sustainable development goals.
“Efforts to reduce disaster risks are needed to ensure sustainable social and economic life. Multi-stakeholder partnerships are needed to achieve this. Waiting to deal with disaster risks is not a good and wise plan, because it is the same as doing a negligence. It is time for us to cooperate, take action together, to actualize the tenacity and resilience in the face of these risks and potential disasters,” said YW Junardy, President of the Indonesia Global Compact Network.
