Resilience as a Gateway: Private foundations and the financialization of disaster assistance

International aid, including contributions from private foundations, assumes a pivotal role within the neoliberal framework, particularly in its utilization of resilience as a strategy for adapting to disasters exacerbated by climate change. The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters necessitate innovative responses, and private foundations inhabit a unique space that straddles the realms of the public and private sectors, blurring the lines between them. The discourse surrounding these foundations aligns closely with the concept of resilience, which regards disaster survivors as agents capable of catalyzing their own transformation. The concept of resilience might lead us to believe that non-state actors working on the ground are motivated by a desire to empower individuals in the face of such calamities. Examining the intricate interplay between private foundations, resilience, and the neoliberal system allows for an exploration of how disasters, particularly those driven by climate change, are perceived as opportunities for development within a neoliberal society. This research endeavors to answer the question: How does the instrumentalization of resilience by private foundations contribute to the development of financialization in disaster assistance? To address this inquiry, a discourse analysis of 200 documents from the year 2000 to the present, originating from two private foundations actively involved in disaster assistance, was conducted. Approximately thirty semi-structured interviews complete this analysis. The theoretical framework of this paper is rooted in the critical post-structuralist approach and provides a critical examination of post-humanitarianism within the context of the adaptive conception of resilience within contemporary neoliberal societies.