Pacific Business Resilience Network

Share this:   

To support National Private Sector Organisations (NPSOs) across the Pacific in building resilient businesses and communities, a joint initiative between the Pacific private sector, CROP agencies, Pacific Islands Governments, United Nations systems, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) saw the development of a Pacific Business Resilience Network (PBRN).

The Network is a mechanism that will assist businesses become resilient following a disaster through the coordination  and mobilisation of resources and services, which are crucial when recovering from a disaster.The private sector plays an integral role in their communities, not only for resources and willpower but also their connections to multi-lateral partners that help mobilise goods and resources that are needed.

One of the core objectives of the Network is to help businesses who bear the brunt of the impact of disaster events in the Pacific to reduce their risks and ensure that they are better prepared.The resilience and preparedness of a business determines how efficiently it can respond and recover from disaster and the network will help the private sector strengthen their own resilience.

Because of its already strong established network, the PBRN is incorporated within the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and will work to support the NPSOs to support businesses to build their resilience to climate change and disasters, and in particular to strengthen their resilience to disasters including their engagement in emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts.

The PBRN will provide coordination and provide a clear entry point for the private sector to access partners (such as Government) and resources, as well as serve as a platform to mobilise capacity building, peer to peer learning and exchanges, and foster partnerships with government and partners.

The objectives of the Pacific Business Resilience Network are to:

• Engage private sector and NPSOs in delivery of regional and global strategic policy commitments pertinent to climate and disaster resilience such as the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, SAMOA Pathway, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Agenda for Humanity and Paris Agreement;
• Act as a focal point for private sector participation in the Pacific Resilience Partnership;
•  Act as a network that connects, strengthens and expands business through ongoing initiatives, existing networks and programs to engage the private sector in disaster preparedness, response and recovery;
• Provide access to resources to mobilise and support business engagement;

The objectives of the Pacific Business Resilience Network are also to support NPSOs to:

• Strengthen the resilience businesses and the communities in which they operate;
• Operate a national coordination architecture and a clear entry point for the private sector on resilience, which includes risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery activities;
• Better understand climate and disaster risks relevant to their operations, and mechanisms for reducing these risks;
• Deliver programs to build the capacity and resilience of businesses and the communities within which they operate; and
• Connect businesses to government, international organisations, civil society organisations and other actors to identify and match needs before, during and after emergencies.