# Local business networks helped 18 million people through the Connecting Business initiative in 2023

The recently published [Annual Report](https://www.connectingbusiness.org/publications/cbi-annual-report-2023), highlights the activities of the OCHA-UNDP initiative and its Member Networks in 2023 to mobilize the private sector before, during, and after emergencies.

“***In 2023, a renewed understanding emerged related to the importance of engaging along the whole disaster management spectrum, with adequate preparedness measures paving the way for a better response which in turn enables a stronger, swifter recovery. None of it can be achieved without trust and cooperation between the public and private sectors,***” said Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator and Director of the UNDP Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.

<span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span> and the 16 Networks responded to 21 crises, such as Peru’s first cyclone in 40 years and the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

“***<span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span> is one of the most successful projects to come out of the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, and is a clear example of what can be achieved when humanitarian and development agencies coordinate their activities,***” said Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.

From Mexico to the Philippines, <span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span>’s16 Member Networks represent over 1.3 million individual businesses in a wide range of industries. New Member Networks joined the initiative, including regional networks in the Caribbean and Pacific as well as national networks in Ecuador and Kenya.

“***It is time to embrace not just funding from the private sector but leveraging the resources and expertise of companies of every size to develop a faster and more effective system of disaster risk reduction, humanitarian response, and early recovery.***” said Kareem Elbayar, <span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span> Programme Coordinator and OCHA Private Sector Unit Team Lead.

The OCHA-UNDP Connecting Business initiative (<span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span>) works with businesses around the world to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Learn more at connectingbusiness.org.

Download the [<span class="cbi-brand-name">CBI</span> 2023 Annual Report](https://connectingbusiness.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CBi_AnnualReport_WEB.pdf).

For more information, please get in touch with us at connectingbusiness@un.org.