The aim of this paper is to provide a broad based overview of some of the trends and issues in the existing literature around the evolving engagement of the private sector in humanitarian action and the interface of the private sector with civil-military actors in disasters and conflict. A number of themes are covered in the review including how the resources of the private sector and the military can be tapped more systematically and strategically to support the humanitarian sector to augment its capacity to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. A second theme is ‘trilateral’ interface between of the private sector and civil-military actors. A third theme briefly looks at some of the trends and patterns of the private sector’s pattern of engagement in international development and potential relevance to humanitarian action.
