This chapter discusses the importance of establishing alliances and partnerships to improve initiatives related to disaster preparedness, risk reduction and humanitarian response. It provides an overview of the key actors involved at regional and global level and discusses the value added of each. This section of the Portal also examines current trends in the global humanitarian community, with a view toward offering insights for disaster managers to improve the decision making process. Finally, it looks at issues related to international humanitarian assistance in the wake of disasters, including principles of effective aid, efforts underway to shape public awareness and mechanisms for funding relief and recovery operations in the health sector.