UNDRR & BCCI build a cadre of coaches to strengthen MSME resilience in Barbados
Bridgetown, 28-29 January, 2026 - The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), in partnership with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), hosted a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ (MSMEs) resilience in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Convened as part of the project on Strengthening the disaster resilience of SMEs, the workshop brought together business resilience champions and private-sector leaders to move beyond theory and into practical, actionable business continuity and resilience planning tailored for the Barbadian context.
The workshop was supported by Mr. Simon Springett, United Nations Resident Coordinator, who underscored the critical role of the private sector in national resilience and sustainable development. The Barbadian Department of Emergency Management (DEM) also played a pivotal role, supporting the design and delivery of a live simulation exercise to ensure alignment with national emergency management standards and protocols.
From plans on paper to practical preparedness
Across the two days, participants delved into and utilized a number of tools and resources, including:
- UNDRR Business Continuity Planning (BCP) guidance
- Sector-specific BCP templates (Tourism, Retail & Commerce, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Professional Services) tailored specifically for the Barbadian / Caribbean context
- Resilience Maturity Assessment (ReMA) tool
To understand the practical application of the tools and the importance of business continuity planning, the participants also engaged in a realistic, multi-hazard simulation exercise. Through carefully designed scenario injects, participants were able to test their thinking under pressure, revealing gaps in planning, and identifying opportunities to strengthen response, coordination, and recovery procedures.
Participants reported that their business continuity plans improved significantly over the two days, and that the tools and templates were highly
applicable and easy to translate into real business settings. The exercise felt realistic, practical, and immediately useful with the injects helping them surface blind spots that traditional planning often overlooks.
Strong engagement, immediate impact
The energy and engagement throughout the workshop were notable. Coaches collaborated across sectors, shared experiences, and built peer support networks that will extend beyond the workshop.
Importantly, this was not a one-off training. By the end of day two, the newly trained coaches had already begun applying what they learned, initiating conversations with MSMEs on how to strengthen their preparedness and continuity measures.
Building a community of support for MSMEs
Through this initiative, BCCI is establishing a cadre of BCP coaches for different sectors who will now serve as a community of support for MSMEs across Barbados. Going forward, this network will help businesses:
- Understand their risks
- Develop and improve their continuity plans
- Align with national multi-hazard early warning and response systems
- Move from reactive to proactive resilience
This effort directly supports Barbados’ broader commitment to disaster risk reduction, private sector engagement, and the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) agenda.
A model for private sector resilience
The success of the ToT workshop demonstrates how partnerships between UNDRR, national authorities, and the private sector can deliver practical outcomes that strengthen national resilience from the ground up. As ARISE continues to champion private sector leadership in disaster risk reduction, the Barbados experience stands as a model for how countries can further build local capacity, empower business coaches, and create sustainable systems of support for MSMEs.
Because resilient businesses mean a resilient Barbados.