In it's relation with the United Nations, the Ericsson Response program is known as "First on the Ground". The "First on the Ground" partnership use private sector capacity to bring the power of technology and resources directly to the service of humanity, and in particular, humanitarian relief operations.

Ericsson's "First on the Ground" concept is designed as an in-kind contribution at the disposal of the UN system to provide and maintain effective mobile communications equipment and expertise for humanitarian relief operations.

The UN-Ericsson partnership, which is facilitated by the United Nations Fund For International Partnerships (UNFIP), involves UN agencies that address emergency response and mitigation as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Partnership with relief organizations will typically include:

• Strive for increased awareness in public and private sector
• Field assessments, includes both disaster assessment and assessments to improve on communication in the field
• Training of volunteers
• Technical workshops, for example on how to use cellular networks and phones more efficiently in a disaster
• Disaster Response as in Pakistan after the earthquake, Indonesia and Sri Lanka after the Tsunami
• Regional programs for disaster preparedness and response
• Technical Seminars and Technical Development
• Field trials of communication tools

In order to make sure the best solutions are being brought to the table, Ericsson would like to see more corporations stepping up to the plate and join the efforts. Corporate partners are therefore desired in this program. Several companies have showed interest and Ericsson encourage dialogue with customers and other companies that could bring important elements to the program.

Partnership with corporations could include:

• Development of common modules to be used in disaster response with relief organizations
• Work together with relief organizations in field operations. In areas like transportation, network implementation and operation
• Common awareness and advocacy programs

Ericsson is also committed to UN Global Compact, which includes three parts; Labor Rights, Humanitarian issues and Environmental issues. Ericsson Response contributes to this commitment by promoting humanitarian issues and advocate better response to disaster. Ericsson has included our Global Compact commitment in the Annual Report and in presentations, and it is stated on web sites and newsletters. Ericsson advocates the better response to disasters by bringing up the issue on related conferences.