The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has announced the launch of the Network of Corporate Chief Resilience Officers (CCRO).
This initiative, part of the UNDRR’s broader efforts to address the growing threat of natural and human-made hazards, aims to foster public-private collaboration and encourage businesses worldwide to take proactive measures in preparing for and mitigating disaster risks.
This aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the global roadmap for reducing disaster losses by 2030. The Sendai Framework sets the fundamentals to facilitate an all-of-society approach, with a clear emphasis on the crucial role of the private sector in building resilience.
States alone cannot address all the drivers of disaster risk. We need the private sector to play a leading role and be part of the solution to reduce the vulnerability and exposure of communities and economic sectors to disasters. This network will accelerate the integration of disaster risk reduction into business models, ensuring that resilience is at the core of companies’ decision-making.
Kamal Kishore, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
The new network intially brings together Chief Resilience Officers and resilience leads from Cartier SA, Holcim Group, Honeywell International Inc., Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, KPMG International Ltd., Marsh McLennan, Nestlé, Syngenta Group, and Swiss International Air Lines Ltd., and Sky, with University College London as academic advisor to create and share good practices internationally.
The network aims to provide thought leadership to help businesses around the world reduce disaster risks, with the ultimate objective of strengthening the resilience of communities and economies.
The network will also work hand in hand with the ARISE Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, a network open to all members of the private sector, where big and small enterprises work together to prevent disasters so their enterprises and communities can thrive.
In 2025 the Network of Corporate Chief Resilience Officers will produce a Resilience Maturity Assessment (REMA) Tool. This will support any organization in assessing its resilience and taking corrective actions. A test version of REMA can be accessed here.
