DHAKA, April 26, 2026 (BSS) - A high-level meeting was held today at the UN 
House in the city between the United Nations Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of 
Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to explore structured private sector engagement 
in humanitarian preparedness and response in Bangladesh.

The meeting was attended by Lisa Doughten, Director of the Financing and 
Outreach Division of UN OCHA, along with senior officials from OCHA 
headquarters, Geneva, and its regional office for Asia and the Pacific, said 
a press release. 

The FBCCI delegation included senior business leaders, former directors, 
representatives of major industry groups, and officials from the FBCCI Safety 
Council.

Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to mobilize private sector 
resources in support of humanitarian response mechanisms, particularly in 
disaster preparedness, emergency coordination, and recovery efforts. 

Both sides noted that Bangladesh and Myanmar remain priority countries for 
OCHA's humanitarian engagement in Asia.

The meeting highlighted OCHA's global coordination mechanisms, including the 
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Country-Based Pooled Funds, and 
Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), which ensure timely and needs-based 
humanitarian assistance.

FBCCI's recent inclusion as the 22nd member of the Connecting Business 
Initiative (CBI)-a joint platform of OCHA and UNDP-was also underscored as a 
key milestone in advancing structured private sector participation in crisis 
response.

Participants reviewed ongoing private sector contributions in Bangladesh's 
emergency response and resilience-building efforts, emphasizing the need to 
better align business capabilities with national disaster management systems. 

Logistics, supply chains, financing, and technology were identified as key 
areas where the private sector can significantly enhance response efficiency.

The discussions further explored potential areas of cooperation, including 
joint capacity-building programmes on humanitarian coordination systems, 
development of a pilot private sector emergency coordination model, and 
integration of FBCCI Safety Council into national and international 
coordination frameworks such as cluster systems and inter-agency mechanisms.

Both parties also stressed the importance of gender-responsive and inclusive 
approaches, particularly in supporting women-led enterprises, dignity needs, 
and MSME resilience during crises.

The meeting also considered establishing a dedicated private sector 
humanitarian coordination platform under the FBCCI Safety Council to 
strengthen planning, coordination, and rapid response capacities.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to develop a scalable and 
inclusive model of public-private partnership in humanitarian action, with 
potential application beyond Bangladesh.

Participants expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration between FBCCI and 
UN OCHA would contribute to more effective, coordinated, and resilient 
humanitarian response systems in the country and beyond.