Public-Private Interactions in Mitigation

Challenges of Public-Private Interaction

Regarding the general issue of cooperation between the public and the private sectors, they have differences in organizational culture, values, regulation, and roles and attitudes regarding disaster mitigation. While it is the core mission for certain public bodies, it serves only as a minor complimentary mission of business enterprises, with the exception of private philanthropies or foundations focusing on disaster-related issues. In order to achieve a continuous interaction between the sectors, all differences should be discussed between the interacting parties, and mechanisms for mutually benefitting cooperation should be established.

While the private sector is for the most part not obliged to participate in disaster mitigation, the public sector has a full monopoly on activities in that field. The question is to what extent public agencies will be ready to accept various private inputs in mitigation. The clear benefit of private contributions is an increase of financial resources available for disaster mitigation. However, many private sponsors are willing to be involved in the process of donation allocation, which may prevent a complete monopoly of public officials making decisions regarding disaster mitigation. More effective ways to address this challenge can include maintaining the public sector's overall responsibility for disaster mitigation, but at the same time allowing more active involvement of the private sector, which should be pursued in close coordination with the relevant public agencies. The third sub-challenge deals with the issue of explaining to the private sector why its contribution to mitigation is important. This complex task may be accomplished if public officials and politicians will act to create an appropriate [Page 534]public atmosphere that welcomes private sector involvement and creates opportunities for their contribution in a way that is bureaucratically unencumbered.

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