In the developing countries of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, early involvement of potential local partners in shaping BTRP’s activities is essential. Consultations with the private sector will help BTRP expand its horizons regarding the roots and routes of bioterrorism and will also help guide innovative approaches to counter biological threats in developing countries. These countries are new terrain for BTRP, but many private-sector organizations are quite familiar with this terrain.

In short, BTRP needs not only to build relations with governments in countries where it will mount programs but also to strengthen the web of institutions devoted to enhancing biosecurity that stretches across and between countries. These institutions may have goals similar to those of BTRP, but they may approach them in different but innovative ways that can help guide BTRP’s approaches.

Recommendation 5-5: BTRP should adopt and adapt successful approaches that have been pioneered by other organizations while developing its own niche among the many programs of other external organizations devoted to reducing biological threats in the low- and middle-income countries.