SANY Foundation Partners with OCHA to Enhance Global Humanitarian Response

SANY Foundation and OCHA: A New Era of Collaboration

During the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) held in March 2026, pivotal moments unfolded as the SANY Foundation and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) came together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This significant agreement marks a formal partnership aimed at enhancing global cooperation in disaster preparedness, emergency response, and early recovery for communities affected by crises around the world.

The agreement was formally signed by Edem Wosornu, Director of OCHA’s Crisis Response Division, and Dr. Olivier Huang, President of SANY France. Notably, this makes the SANY Foundation the first Chinese corporate foundation to enter into such an agreement with OCHA, paving the way for a more substantial contribution to humanitarian efforts globally.

Highlights of the Partnership

During the HNPW 2026, the SANY Foundation was invited to participate in two key sessions organized by the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI), focusing on mechanisms for private sector engagement in humanitarian action. On March 10, the Foundation became a thematic partner at a CBI Welcome Breakfast alongside notable organizations such as Visa, Microsoft, and UPS. The session led by the SANY Foundation engaged in discussions about early recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Danxi Shen, the Secretary-General of the SANY Foundation, shared valuable insights from the Foundation’s past disaster response experiences. These included interventions during earthquakes in Turkey and Myanmar, as well as flood relief efforts in Indonesia and the United States. He emphasized the critical role construction machinery plays in search and rescue operations, debris removal, road clearing, and restoring access to affected communities.

The following day, March 11, CBI hosted a panel discussion featuring corporate philanthropy’s role in global humanitarian action, which united various stakeholders, including foundation representatives and NGOs. The SANY Foundation provided insights into their response to the devastating floods in Sumatra in 2025, where they collaborated with Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and KADIN to deploy heavy machinery for over two weeks. This initiative successfully reopened multiple emergency access routes, showcasing the essential contributions of private sector capabilities in crisis response.

The Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony was a notable moment, committing both the SANY Foundation and OCHA to integrate industrial expertise, technological innovation, and SANY’s global network into international humanitarian responses. Kareem Elbayar, CBI Program Coordinator, reiterated the necessity of cooperation among governments, businesses, and civil society to address global disasters effectively and protect vulnerable communities.

Breaking New Grounds

This partnership goes beyond mere collaboration; it represents a foundational step in SANY's broader commitment to driving the Global Machinery Alliance for Relief. By combining equipment, technology, and global networks, they aim to support a coordinated humanitarian response, envisioning a world where no community faces disaster alone. SANY's resolve to leverage innovation and industrial expertise for the common good exemplifies the potential of such collaborations.

In closing, the signing of this MoU serves as a beacon of hope, highlighting the collective responsibility vested in the corporate sector to contribute to humanitarian missions. As SANY and OCHA embark on this collaborative journey, they set a pathway toward a more resilient future for communities affected by disasters across the globe.