Women Entrepreneurs Embrace Disaster Preparedness

Business owners develop their implementation plans for emergencies during Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Training

22nd September 2025, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Representatives of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines recently examined practical ways to prioritise, create and implement plans to ensure that their business can combat and recover from hazard-related threats such as hurricanes that could cause business interruptions including data breaches.

UN Women under the Build Back Equal Project, the Government of Canada-funded project, sponsored 17 Women who own MSMEs to a 3-day training facilitated by the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) exploring the principles and practical application of contingency planning.

Participants reflected on practical examples to: (i) build a robust plan to safeguard their operations (ii) identify gaps and develop intervention strategies and (iii) manage risk and community business interruptions with stakeholders. 

During the presentation of certificates to participants Build Back Equal Project Coordination Analyst, Rhema Lewis  said: “Small businesses play an important role in advancing gender equality, women's empowerment and economic resilience and it is encouraging to see many of the businesses that have been a part of the Build Back Equal Project through initiatives such the first Night Market in 2023 and businesses from the Grenadines that we have formed relationships with since the passing of Hurricane  Beryl  participating in this training. Facilitating this initiative, is a testament to UN Women and Global Affairs Canada commitment through Build Back Equal to you, your businesses, and your communities.”

Pariticipants receiving certificates of attendance

CED facilitator, Nisha Glasgow shared her thoughts on the influence small businesses play in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, “This training is building our business communities, and I challenge you to be that catalyst of change.”

Participants reflecting on the training said: "I’ve done BCP trainings but this had so much detail and I recognize where my gaps are, more than before"- Sophia Searles of Searles Agro Products.  "Communication and the need for communication stood out”- said Tasheka Haynes of OhSo! Shannsha Browne of Serene Naturals stressed: “I am grateful for everything that we learned. I am leaving with new knowledge and a changed mindset on what I need to do”.

The Global Affairs Canada-funded Build Back Equal Project is being implemented by UN Women (lead agency) and UNFPA, providing a comprehensive approach for women’s economic empowerment by addressing the structural barriers to women's economic empowerment. Recognising that women are afforded less access to finance, and rights over productive resources, including land and technology, the BBE Project is providing support to micro, small, and medium enterprises led by women, youth, and people living with disabilities.

Build Back Equal is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of National Mobilisation;  Gender Affairs Division in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. To learn more about the Build Back Equal, contact Rhema Lewis (rhema.lewis@unwomen.org).