Business Preparedness Initiative Toolkit
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BPI?
To save lives, protect livelihoods, and shorten recovery times following disasters. It does this by providing small and medium businesses with adaptable preparedness tools.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
There are many benefits to using BPI tools, including:
- Quicker post-disaster recovery for communities
- More resilient supply chains for larger businesses
- Reduced economic impact from disasters
- Stronger stakeholder relationships
- Stronger societies–business relationships
- Engagement of business as part of civil society
- Wider insurance cover/lower premiums for SMEs
- Increased and sustainable resilience
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
BPI tools are intended to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Micro and larger organisations are welcome to use the tools but may need to adapt some of the content. The material is applicable to both for profit and non-profit organisations.
WHO IS THIS GUIDE FOR?
This guide is for Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies and other organisations, associations, and networks (e.g., Chamber of Commerce). The guide has been designed to support these groups to develop their own program of activity; it contains links to available resources, as well as ideas and suggestions for customising the tools at a level that suits the resources available and the needs of local business communities.
WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE?
These tools are designed to be most effective when used together as part of a complete program; however, they can be used separately.
Atlas is a free mobile app currently available in multiple languages (with more to come) on iOS in the Apple App Store and on Android in the Google Play Store. As a core component of BPI, Atlas is full of useful advice to help organisations build adaptability and to create basic business continuity plans. Atlas is an educational tool with activities, actions, and reflective exercises.
Workshop in a Box is a downloadable toolkit that provides all of the support information and customisable materials a facilitator needs to promote, organise, and run workshops to help small and medium organisations take basic steps toward being crisis ready. Workshops can help people get started with preparedness and inspire them to continue their journey using Atlas.
BPI Resource Guide
The GDPC, in partnership with Resilient Organisations, has developed a comprehensive guide for partners wishing to implement a business preparedness initiative. This guide is for Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and other organizations, associations, and networks (e.g. Chamber of Commerce). The guide has been designed to support these groups to develop their own program of activity; it contains links to available resources, as well as ideas and suggestions for customizing the tools at a level that suits the resources available and the needs of local business communities.
