The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in partnership with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) , and technical assistance with UNISDR, ADRC, APEC EPWG and Singapore Business Federation has initiated a project on Private Sector Engagement in Natural Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilient Economies through Business Continuity Planning and Management. The overall objective of the project will be to improve disaster resilience by increasing awareness among SMEs, supporting SMEs to engage effectively with local government in risk reduction activities, and documenting and disseminating the lessons in Ayutthaya and other provinces.

The key result area and activities will be 1. Strengthening SMEs resilience to natural disaster risks and adaptation to climate change 2. Developing practical guidelines and build capacities to develop Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) 3. Knowledge Exchange to share best practices to assist SMEs in APEC region through SME Community Forum The Sub-activities will include: - In-depth study on the SMEs vulnerability to natural disasters - Identify the current government policy framework on assisting SMEs to prevent, respond and recover from natural disasters - Capacity-building and awareness for SMEs leading to BCP - Supporting SMEs to engage and plan with local government on disaster risk reduction

At the end of the project, the key deliverables would be - Establishment of a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Public Private Partnership in Thailand - Establishment of a self-funding ?Asian Business Resilience Forum? with initial technical support from this project - One in-depth study on the current status (institutional and legal framework) of business continuity plans and government policies to assist SMEs in Thailand - Formulate practical guidelines on promoting SME business continuity plans to enhance disaster resilience and reliability of supply chains - Review and document global best practice (field based research) on regulations, incentives, awareness and knowledge networking on promoting SMEs? disaster preemptive mechanisms - Training Package (in Thai and English) for SMEs focusing disaster risk reduction and business continuity planning and management - Two 5- days Training of Trainers (ToT) and four training involving SMEs and local community - Two national workshops in disseminating the project experiences and good practices in Thailand - Participation and presentation at Global and Regional Meetings on DRR