The Connecting Business Initiative (CBI) Annual Report 2024-25 provides an overview of our activities in private sector disaster preparedness, response, and recovery during an 18-month period of unprecedented global challenges, together with stories and learning curves that demonstrate the transformative power of public-private partnerships. We showcase the human side of disaster management, the importance of strategic collaboration, and how investing in resilience creates a safer, more resilient world for all.
Between January 2024 and June 2025, CBI grew to 20 Member Networks representing over 1.5 million businesses across 67 countries. The Networks responded to 54 crises, including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. Their emergency preparedness, response and recovery initiatives reached 9.9 million people, and over US$29 million was mobilized through in-kind and financial contributions from the private sector. Beyond response, CBI delivered its inaugural Business Emergency Operations Center course, developed standard operating procedures for private sector emergency response, and convened regional workshops to strengthen disaster management systems. This report features compelling stories from Chile to the Philippines, Madagascar to Mexico, demonstrating how businesses are not just funding sources but strategic operational allies co-creating a more resilient future.