Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) provides information on how to work with many of the major international relief organizations on the IFInet Web site. Trade Commissioners in affected countries, in the Offices of Liaison with International Financial Institutions, and at the Canadian embassies and consulates in New York, Copenhagen, Rome, and Geneva can help Canadian companies get in touch with appropriate representatives of all the major international relief organizations.

During crises

Before crises

During crises

During crises, companies can be most effective in meeting the needs of disaster-affected populations by providing cash donations to experienced international relief organizations. Financial contributions allow these organizations to purchase exactly what is needed and pay for transportation costs.

Most major relief organizations are well-prepared for natural disasters and complex emergencies around the world. To be able to deliver supplies quickly, they often stockpile needed goods in warehouses across the globe and make long-term agreements with suppliers who can quickly respond to an emergency. Although relief organizations are interested in building relationships with suppliers of required goods, contacting them in the midst of an emergency is not recommended.

Before crises

Before investing too much time and effort, companies need to consider whether:

1) Their products are comparable to what is currently being used by international relief organizations. These organizations often face both technical and financial constraints on the types of products they can use. Some have published catalogues of commonly used items that can be used as a guide to determine the suitability of the products offered by Canadian companies:
   a) IAPSO’s Compendium of Generic Specifications for Emergency Relief Items (Volume 1, Volume 2)
   b) UNICEF Supply Catalogue
   c) International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement Emergency Items Catalogue
   d) Médecins sans frontières Reference Books

2) Their products can be produced more efficiently in the affected country or region. Restarting the economy after a natural disaster is among the most important components of the recovery. Relief organizations will make every effort to purchase goods locally as long as they are competitively available and meet the requisite standards.

Related: How Canadians Can Help