GAIN Partners with Tecnologico de Monterrey to Increase Resilience in Mexico

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Droughts, floods, fires, delayed rain and other global forces are becoming increasingly devastating as populations grow and economies expand. While governments and multinational corporations can help much of the world adapt, smaller enterprises can often respond to local conditions more quickly, especially in developing countries.

The Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN), in partnership with the Tecnologico de Monterrey, is embarking on a year-long project to determine how these enterprises build resilience for their operations and their communities. Focusing on sectors crucial to human well-being, agriculture, water and energy, the two institutions will engage with businesses across Mexico.

"Tecnologico de Monterrey is a leading university in developing science-based, real-world solutions," said GAIN Founding CEO Dr. Juan Jose Daboub. "Through this partnership, GAIN's unique leadership on adaptation will bring together experts from the public and private sectors with a team of advanced scientists from one of the best schools in Latin America to determine the best way forward to measure people's business resilience at the local level."

As part of a larger endeavor, GAIN and Tecnologico de Monterrey will perform surveys, create guidelines and host a workshop to further global knowledge about the importance of small- and medium-sized business adaptation innovation.

At GAIN's Annual Meeting & Scientific Convening, Dr. Maria de Lourdes Dieck Assad, President, National Graduate Schools: EGADE Business School and EGAP Government and Public Policy ­­– Tecnologico de Monterrey, stressed the importance of adaptation projects to be identified and implemented.

"Although adaptation is currently in the minds of companies and communities, we still need to be very proactive in its promotion and make it become a part of their DNA," said Dr. Dieck Assad.  "When you see adaptation projects in action, you can understand why it is so outstanding; that's why we need to spread the word of its impact and emphasize its relevance among corporations and governments. We need to commit ourselves to the enhancement of thinking about adaptation."

The Mexico project, "Determining local metrics that matter to small and medium-sized entrepreneurs," will also advance the GAIN Index, which explores resilience at a national level, and inform the creation of an adaptation index for Mexico.

The GAIN Index is a navigation tool to help guide investments in adaptation and assess a country's vulnerability and readiness to adapt to global challenges such as population growth, urbanization and climate variability. A region-by-region comparison of resilience within Mexico will be especially helpful for decision makers at the local level.

This project is made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

GAIN is the first international organization devoted solely to helping the world adapt to global challenges by galvanizing the capacity of the private sector.  Crucial questions faced by the international community include decreasing water supplies, shifting agricultural patterns, larger coastal populations at risk of floods and disrupted energy systems. GAIN aims to bring more attention to the urgent need to adapt through its Index, Knowledge and Prize awarded each year. Visit gain.org for the latest news in adaptation.

The Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization guided by a vision of building resilience to climate change and other global forces as a key component to sustainable development. This project is made possible thanks to the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation. 

For more information, please visit us at gain.org.

SOURCE Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN)