As part of its initiative to get the private sector more involved
in supporting humanitarian work and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
initiatives in Pakistan, IOM has signed an agreement with the
Organization for Social Development Initiatives (OSDI), the
corporate social responsibility wing of Pakistan’s Marine
Group of Agencies.

OSDI funds will contribute towards the IOM Shelter Programme in
districts severely affected by last year’s flooding in Sindh.
Specifically they will cover the cost of safe shelter trainings in
two affected communities, which will enable 50 of the most
vulnerable householders to rebuild. The agreement is worth just
over USD 33,000.

“IOM recognizes the private sector as a critical
stakeholder in building DRR capacity in Pakistan and seeks to
engage with various partners to benefit vulnerable communities and
local organizations, and to help them to work better with
government counterparts,” says IOM Pakistan Chief of Mission
Enrico Ponziani.

Pakistan has a well-resourced private sector, which is rapidly
evolving and developing its corporate philanthropy.  When
catastrophic floods hit nationwide in 2010 and again in 2011 in
Sindh and Balochistan, the private sector contributed generously
towards early recovery and rehabilitation.

“OSDI decided to partner with IOM because of its extensive
presence in the field and its beneficiary-driven model for shelter
recovery in Sindh. We are hopeful that this partnership will pave
the way for greater collaboration between the private sector and
humanitarian organizations working in Pakistan,” says founder
trustee of OSDI Pakistan Aasim Siddiqui.

For more information, please contact

IOM Islamabad

Tel: +92 (0)51 283 1061-63

Email: "mailto:pessu@iom.int">pessu@iom.int