Barbados businesses to bolster disaster resilience with UN partnership

The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has announced a partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to launch a capacity-building project aimed at enhancing the disaster resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The project, titled Strengthening the Disaster Resilience of SMEs, was unveiled at the BCCI Power Summit 2025, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre under the theme Preparing and Optimising Our Women in Business to Win Through Greater Awareness and Empowerment in Order to Deliver Strong Results.

BCCI Executive Director Misha Lobban-Clarke, speaking at the summit, highlighted the importance of equipping businesses , particularly women-led enterprises, with the necessary tools to withstand and recover from disasters.

“The Chamber will be jointly working with the UNDRR, the leading agency in the United Nations on disaster risk reduction, to implement a capacity project aimed at equipping SMEs with the tools necessary to implement effective disaster risk reduction strategies, and to enhance their resilience in times of disasters,” Lobban-Clarke said.

The one-year project will assess the current resilience levels of SMEs, develop tailored business continuity plans, and deliver a comprehensive training programme. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting women-led businesses, ensuring equitable access to resources and knowledge. (SB)