Deloitte to launch 'crises' humanitarian programme

Targeting two global projects of humanitarian organisations, the programme marks a new approach by collaborating with humanitarian organisations to co-create innovative solutions to help improve the sector’s preparedness and responsiveness to crises.

 

DTTL’s global member-firm network will participate in this collaborative effort working to deliver Deloitte’s globally coordinated approach around the world.

 

"At Deloitte we believe that business exists for more than just profit and has the power to positively impact society," said Barry Salzberg, global CEO, DTTL.

 

"The Humanitarian Innovation Programme is a way for Deloitte to deliver the greatest impact to humanitarian efforts – not by simply focusing on a single crisis or donating money – but by leveraging the skills and knowledge of our people and our network. The programme will convene different subject matter experts, facilitate the co-creation of new approaches to humanitarian crises, and find the most effective way to deliver better results for the long term."

 

The programme launches at a time when humanitarian organisations are increasingly responding to a variety of disasters, requiring an immediate response with limited resources.

 

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), only 3 per cent of all global Official Development Assistance goes to disaster preparedness, yet each dollar invested in preparedness, saves seven dollars in recovery. Deloitte's Programme aims to deliver solutions to humanitarian agencies to help them during the preparation and readiness phases, which could ultimately help to strengthen the response of the local and international community, sustain livelihoods, and save more lives.

 

The programme was developed after broad consultations with leading humanitarian organisations, which identified the need for innovation and collaboration with the private sector.

 

"With the scale and frequency of disasters increasing, and humanitarian organisations being stretched to do more with fewer resources, the need to find sustainable, multi-sector solutions has never been greater," said David Pearson, chief sustainability officer, DTTL. "This programme is more than a series of pro-bono engagements; it will serve to generate innovative ideas that have the potential to transform the humanitarian sector. Each project will tackle an issue faced by many organisations in the sector. The solutions Deloitte co-creates will be scalable from one organisation to another, amplifying each project's impact."

 

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it is estimated that natural disasters have cost the world more than US$1trillion in destruction since 2000. Not to mention ongoing humanitarian responses due to civil unrest or erupting conflicts – in 2011 there were 200 active conflicts worldwide. And the implications far exceed monetary costs; between 2000 and 2012, 1.2 million people were killed and 2.9 billion people affected by disasters.

 

Over the past year several DTTL member firms have tested this collaborative approach by delivering or kicking off pro bono projects for UN OCHA and Mercy Corps. The first was a leadership development programme for UN OCHA’s humanitarian coordinators – the UN’s most senior leaders responsible for coordinating life-saving assistance during humanitarian responses – hosted by Deloitte United States at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas.

 

Additionally, Deloitte United States is working with Mercy Corps to create a framework that identifies risks and incorporates resiliency into the strategic and operational decision-making processes, while preserving the organisation's agility and entrepreneurial culture.

 

"The humanitarian environment is a very complex environment and resiliency is a particularly difficult challenge faced by all humanitarian organisations," said Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps. "The solutions developed through our work with Deloitte will be shared broadly, providing a framework that not only helps our organisation but the ability of the sector to respond to crises in a way that also builds local community resilience."

 

The Humanitarian Innovation Programme is open to any humanitarian organisation worldwide and DTTL will receive applications through July 2013. A panel will review the applications and select two pro bono projects, which Deloitte member firms will begin work on in late 2013.

 

More information can be found at: www.deloitte.com/humanitarian.