Over recent years, the JTI Foundation has emerged as a long-term partner of organizations specialized in preparing for and responding to natural disasters.
Turkish SAR volunteer outfit GEA, ShelterBox UK, Switzerland’s REDOG and Peace Winds Japan are four among these.

Only a small number of organizations are resourced to respond globally to the immediate needs of communities shattered by major natural disasters. The JTI Foundation is privileged to work with four such first-responding organizations.

In the hours that follow such disasters, these organizations often face similar challenges – including access, logistics and security.

Believing that opportunities must exist for its partners to share experiences for mutual benefit – the JTI Foundation hosted its first joint SAR and Disaster Relief Workshop on June 8 and 9, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.

This Workshop provided a platform for participants to explore where operational synergies might lie: most obviously in sharing resources at times of deployment, but also in preparing for missions in areas such as training and logistics.

Day one of the Workshop enabled partners to introduce themselves, explore areas for potential cooperation, and to develop a road map for closer collaboration going forward. These included collaborating in training exercises, pooling contact information, and sharing experiences around crucial issues at times of deployment.

Day two’s highlight was a tour of GEA’s realistic training camp on the outskirts of Istanbul. GEA’s volunteers demonstrated their skills across a range of traditional and high-tech Search & Rescue techniques – including the trial deployment of drone mounted video-imaging equipment.

Since the Workshop, GEA and REDOG have concluded a protocol for joint international deployments and ShelterBox and GEA are likewise discussing opportunities for joint activities. REDOG has helped Peace Winds Japan develop its canine search & rescue team, and more recently all four organizations deployed in support for victims of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes.

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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