In response to increased interest shown by the private sector in supporting humanitarian operations worldwide, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have devised a set of principles to guide public-private collaboration for humanitarian action.

The RICS Major Disaster Management Commission was a key contributor to the development of the guiding principles.

The Commission are working with major firms in getting chartered surveyors on the ground to help those most in need, working closely with UN agencies and humanitarian aid charities.

 The Guiding Principles were launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on 25 January 2008.

It is hoped that this framework will reduce obstacles for private sector engagement in humanitarian action and encourage better public-private partnership.

 These principles are the product of broad consultations with the humanitarian community and the private sector and aim to serve as a guide to the private sector and the humanitarian community, though they are not intended to replace agency and sector specific guidelines and standards.