VBRC showcases Vanuatu’s private sector leadership in climate resilience

November 3, 2024 9:59 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

The Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC) has participated at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 (APMCDRR2024) in Manila, Philippines, hosted by the Government of the Philippines and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Chairman and Managing Partner of Pacific Advisory, Glen Graig, represented the private sector at the conference as a panellist speaking on the topic of “Resilient Future: Bridging Science and Business Solutions”.

During this discussion, Glen highlighted how Vanuatu’s private sector leverages science data and technology to strengthen resilience activities and create meaningful impact within local communities.

VBRC has earned international recognition for its innovative approach to resilience building, particularly through its groundbreaking partnership with Oxfam in implementing the world’s first blockchain-driven cash voucher assistance program.

This initiative, launched in response to the combined challenges of COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold, has become a model for effective emergency response and recovery, demonstrating how technology and private sector collaboration can deliver rapid, transparent assistance to vulnerable communities.

“The conference reinforced the importance of continuing partnerships between science, business, and government sectors for an all-of-community approach to resilience building,” said Glen.

“Our recognised success with the Unblocked Cash response in Vanuatu shows how innovative technology, when combined with strong private sector engagement partnerships with NGO’s and government can transform disaster response and recovery efforts.”

APMCDRR2024 provided a powerful platform for key actors across the Asia-Pacific region to address the critical need for enhanced action on resilience in the face of increasing disaster and climate risk. At the opening ceremony, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Kamal Kishore, underlined that “the Asia-Pacific region is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world but also a pioneer on disaster risk reduction which has been replicated around the world”.

The conference brought together over 4,000 national and international stakeholders from across government, business, civil society, science and academic sectors to accelerate progress in reducing disaster risk.

“Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction” was the theme of the conference.