The JTI Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International take an existing program in an exciting new direction
Merging disaster risk reduction and response expertise with the power of the market to scale up shelter-related humanitarian interventions

The JTI Foundation has supported Habitat for Humanity International’s (HFHI) interventions in a number of countries in response to specific natural and man-made disasters.

Between 2105 and 2018, the JTI Foundation also helped HFHI to build capacity through the establishment of a dedicated ‘International Center for Disaster Risk Reduction and Response’.

This Center has equipped an estimated 415 personnel with the latest industry standards – and with operating procedures, guides, technical documents and tools proven to deliver results in the field.

The JTI Foundation’s support has evolved into a new form. The focus of this second phase is to pilot the combining of HFHI’s expertise in Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (also referred to as DR3) with market-based mechanisms.

The program has two key elements:

The first is ‘Cementing Knowledge’. This will extend existing capacity-building measures to identify, share and develop ideas, approaches and solutions to Disaster Risk Reduction and Response across Habitat for Humanity International’s network.

The second element, ‘Pursuing Innovation’ will explore new ways to use market actors and market forces to amplify disaster preparation and recovery efforts. Particular focus areas include housing finance, housebuilding products – such as bricks, tiles and cement – and services related to housebuilding generally.

HFHI believes this market-based approach should reach far more people than is possible using field-staff to work directly with families caught up in the aftermath of distasters. In fact, it is estimated that around three million people have already benefited from initiatives related to improved market systems.

Indeed, beneficiaries of this program will likely extend beyond people directly benefiting from the pilot program, to include other low incomes families in substandard housing, peer agencies of HFHI, and the beneficiaries of their projects.

Program activities and deliverables include:

  • Strategies, interventions and activities to strenghten the resilience of households and market actors to disasters;
  • Market-based response plans as part of disaster preparedness;
  • Practical recomendations for the design of shelter preparedness;
  • Resilience and recovery programs that work through markets
  • An evaluation, accountability and learning review of the pilot activities.

The program is also supported by HFHI’s Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter through its market development work component.

Key numbers

OVER 20 YEARS OF INVESTMENT IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES

45

Countries where we have supported our partners’ work in response to a growing range of threats to life and livelihood

50

Million USD invested since 2001 to help communities better prepare for – and recover from – natural and man-made disasters

100

Projects addressing a broad range of challenges, including mine-clearance, emergency shelter, resilient housing solutions and capacity building

Other projects

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The JTI Foundation works with some of the most renowned organizations in the fields of disaster risk management and disaster response. If you think you have a project that meets our criteria, please use this link to complete an application.

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Preparedness

We support measures that increase the preparedness of communities threatened by natural disasters. We assist in project design and implementation and promote risk awareness and community collaboration.

Response

We invest in partnerships that allow us to provide rapid and effective support to victims in the immediate aftermath of disasters, including droughts, earthquakes, floods, famines and armed conflicts.

Resilience

We promote projects that help communities recover from the impact of disasters and strengthen their resilience – rebuilding lives and livelihoods as quickly and sustainably as possible.

About us

Established in 2001, the JTI Foundation is a charitable organization registered under Swiss law and financially endowed by JT International SA.

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