💡 Exciting to see the Business Continuity Management (#BCM) methodology in action at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)-led small and medium enterprise (SME) resilience workshops that happened in Barcelona!
Over two days (March 18-19), experts from Barcelona, Bridgetown, and Sendai came together for interactive discussions and exercises focused on strengthening SME disaster resilience.
⚠️ SMEs are often more vulnerable to disruptions than larger businesses, yet they play a crucial role in community resilience. The challenge is clear: How do we support SMEs in futureproofing their business models?
💡 Through knowledge exchange and scenario-based exercises, we tested practical approaches to risk management, ensuring that SMEs are not only informed but also equipped to take action. The methodology emphasized proactive risk assessment, continuity planning, and adaptive strategies tailored to different business environments.
🙏🏻 It was a privilege to contribute a framework to this project and to consult on these important efforts with a great team. As a consultant contributing to the BCM methodology, it is rewarding to enable participants to engage deeply with the tools and frameworks designed to help SMEs not just survive crises, but build long-term resilience to a variety of hazards.
🌍 This workshop is part of a broader UNDRR project on SME resilience currently being implemented in Bridgetown, Barcelona, and Sendai. More insights and engagement opportunities will follow throughout the year.
About the Project: The “Strengthening the Disaster Resilience of SMEs” project seeks to mobilize public, private and other relevant sectors of society to build SME capacity for risk-informed decision-making. The project’s interventions include landscaping studies, the development of Business Continuity Plans, and training programs, ultimately benefiting at least 100 SMEs across the target cities.
About the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR): UNDRR is the lead agency in the United Nations on disaster risk reduction. It provides leadership, expertise, and tools to enable countries to understand and act on disaster risks before they become disasters. UNDRR’s work is guided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which aims to achieve a substantial reduction in disaster risk and losses by the year 2030.
More here.
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