Coalition for a Secure and Resilient Region
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| Coalition for a Secure and Resilient Region | |
|---|---|
| Name | Coalition for a Secure and Resilient Region |
| Formation | 2018 |
| Type | Nonprofit coalition |
| Headquarters | Regional Coordination Center |
| Location | Metro Hub |
| Region served | Multistate Region |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Coalition for a Secure and Resilient Region is a multilateral nonprofit consortium focused on regional stability, emergency preparedness, infrastructure protection, and cross-sector continuity planning. Founded in 2018 amid heightened concern over transboundary hazards, the coalition convenes public agencies, private firms, academic centers, and civil society groups to coordinate responses to natural disasters, cyber incidents, supply chain disruptions, and critical infrastructure failures. Its activities span policy advocacy, joint exercises, research partnerships, and capacity building across municipal, state, and international stakeholders.
Background and Formation
The coalition emerged after a series of high-profile events including Hurricane Maria, California wildfires, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and widespread WannaCry ransomware attack prompted regional actors to seek integrated approaches to resilience. Founding signatories included representatives from organizations such as Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, National Guard Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and regional utilities modeled on entities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Consolidated Edison. Early convenings drew participants from Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, The Brookings Institution, and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, reflecting influences from reports like the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Mission and Objectives
The coalition's stated mission aligns with objectives found in documents from European Union resilience planning, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization civil emergency planning, and standards promulgated by International Organization for Standardization. Objectives include promoting interoperable incident management akin to Incident Command System adoption, enhancing cyber-physical security practices referenced by National Institute of Standards and Technology, advancing community preparedness similar to programs by United Nations Development Programme, and facilitating public–private coordination modeled after Public Safety Canada initiatives. Additional goals mirror strategic aims of World Health Organization emergency programs and include support for continuity plans used by Federal Aviation Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Organizational Structure and Membership
The coalition organizes a governing board with representation drawn from entities like American Water Works Association, Electric Power Research Institute, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and municipal networks such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities. An executive office interfaces with technical working groups featuring researchers from Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and practitioners from IBM Security, Cisco Systems, Siemens, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Membership categories reflect models used by World Economic Forum platforms and include governmental partners similar to State of California Office of Emergency Services, nonprofit partners resembling Feeding America, and international partners akin to International Committee of the Red Cross.
Programs and Initiatives
Programs include a regional exercise series modeled on TOPOFF exercises, a critical infrastructure mapping initiative drawing on methodologies used by National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and a cyber resilience pilot inspired by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency playbooks. Initiatives span pandemic preparedness referencing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols, climate adaptation projects informed by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change guidance, and supply chain resilience studies paralleling work by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Training offerings use curricula adapted from FEMA Emergency Management Institute, while research partnerships publish findings in venues associated with Nature, Science (journal), and policy briefs in Foreign Affairs and The Atlantic.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The coalition maintains formal liaisons with regional bodies such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations, European Commission, and subnational alliances akin to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, and collaborates with finance institutions like International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank on resilience financing. Academic collaborations include joint centers with MITRE Corporation and RAND Corporation, and operational partnerships with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Office of the Surgeon General, and logistics partners resembling United Parcel Service and Maersk. It participates in multilateral forums alongside G20 resilience dialogues and contributes expertise to initiatives led by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation.
Funding and Accountability
Funding sources mirror hybrid models used by United Nations Development Programme and World Bank trust funds, combining philanthropic grants from foundations like Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and corporate contributions from firms such as Google and Amazon (company), alongside public grants from agencies comparable to National Science Foundation and multilateral loans from Inter-American Development Bank. Governance mechanisms incorporate audit practices modeled on Government Accountability Office standards, transparency protocols similar to Open Government Partnership commitments, and independent evaluation approaches used by International Rescue Committee and Independent Evaluation Group.
Impact and Criticism
The coalition catalyzed regional exercises that cited methodologies from After-Action Report traditions and informed policy changes echoing reforms in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, while influencing infrastructure investments comparable to projects by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and resilience bonds advocated by World Bank Treasury. Critics, including analysts associated with Cato Institute and commentators in The Wall Street Journal, argue that coalition activities risk duplicating existing programs run by FEMA and regional authorities, raise concerns about public accountability similar to debates surrounding Public–Private Partnership, and may privilege corporate stakeholders represented by consulting firms like McKinsey & Company. Supporters counter with endorsements from civic groups akin to National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and policy recommendations aligned with reports from Council on Foreign Relations and International Institute for Strategic Studies.