The province of Eastern Samar was one of the provinces hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Almost two years after the disaster, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts are underway and among the sectors that are included in long-term development programs are the MSMEs. One of Oxfam Philippines? identified interventions for this sector is to increase their resilience against future and ?creeping? disasters. The introduction of BCP for the MSMEs is one of the relevant initiatives that will be undertaken. The strengthening of the MSMEs through BCP will provide special attention to the businesses that form part of the market systems that are deemed critical as evidenced by the results of a Pre-Crisis Market Mapping Analysis. By increasing the resilience of these MSMEs, it is expected that this would help decrease the vulnerability of the market systems and help reduce the impact of disasters on the communities as well as address the longer term effect of poverty and vulnerabilities on poor households and the livelihoods of small farmers/producers.

1. Develop a training module for the BCP for MSMEs 2. Conduct Training of Trainers 3. Develop a practitioners' manual and simple - user friendly materials to guide future trainers and MSMEs 4. Conduct the training of initial batch of MSMEs/Coops (involved in the key market systems) 5. Create the space for dialogue with the MSMEs in order to influence their business practices that impacts on the livelihoods of small farmers/producers 6. Help develop an approach/framework to engage the LGUs and relevant government agencies to provide support for the BCPs of the MSMEs increase resilience against disasters

The BCP Training for MSMEs will have three primary objectives: a. To increase the resilience of MSMEs in the municipalities in Eastern Samar against disasters b. To influence the business practices and policies of SMEs within key market systems in order to benefit the livelihoods of small farmers/producers and vulnerable households c. To influence local government units/government agencies to provide support to MSMEs for improving their resilience against disasters