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Innovative business models and tools for building climate resilience of SMEs

Closed

Adaptation

Industry

Call 7

Sri Lanka

Time consumed

Start: 15-Sep-18 End: 31-Dec-21

Lead Nordic partner

UNEP DTU Partnership

Country of Lead Nordic partner

Denmark

Local partner(s)

Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

Other partner(s)

MP Ensystems Advisory Private Ltd.

NCF grant size

499,982

Total project cost

649,892

Technologies

ICT tools

Methods

Financial instruments, Training

Country of implementation:

Sri Lanka

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Description

The project aims to develop innovative and sustainable approaches and tools to build businesses' adaptation capacity in the garment sector in Sri Lanka, to reduce recurring losses from floods.

Among the most adversely affected by recurrent floods in Sri Lanka are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the garment industry, where a large percentage of women are employed. These businesses suffer from extensive flood related losses...

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Objective

Project's expected key results are:
•A baseline study will provide improved understanding of SMEs' vulnerability context in Sri Lanka and current risk behaviour
•Innovative decision tool will support increased awareness and behavioural change amongst targeted SMEs, in relation to (i) assessing climate risks (ii) mechanisms to integrate and invest in DRM and adaptation planning (iii) financial models to support adaptation investments and operation and management
•Multi-stakeholder dialogue between...

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Results

The BBCR project was, from its outset, an exceptionally ambitious and innovative project, with a high degree of relevance for stakeholders and for contributing to the knowledge base on climate change adaptation. Although the project was significantly affected by factors outside the control of the implementing consortium, such as the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the main objectives were successfully achieved, contributing substantially to... The BBCR project was, from its outset, an exceptionally ambitious and innovative project, with a high degree of relevance for stakeholders and for contributing to the knowledge base on climate change adaptation. Although the project was significantly affected by factors outside the control of the implementing consortium, such as the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the main objectives were successfully achieved, contributing substantially to building the resilience of SMEs in Sri Lanka.
Following early stages of data gathering as part of the baseline activities, a prototype DRM tool was developed, in the form of a mobile App. The prototype was piloted in the field in Sri Lanka and improved based on the results of the piloting process, giving rise to the first version of the BBCR tool. This innovative DRM Tool offers three main functions to end users:
(i) An early warning component, based on national meteorological data (also possible to contribute localised user generated rainfall data) to actively inform users of potential flooding information as weather conditions change. Ideally, users would need to be informed of possible adverse weather conditions with enough time to allow them to take appropriate measures to protect their businesses and reduce losses.
(ii) A customised self-risk assessment model that informs users of their general risk level, based on exposure and vulnerability to flood events. Users are required to retake this assessment every time they have implemented an adaptation measure or made significant changes to their businesses that can affect their risk level. This provides the users with the assurance of knowing what actions lower their risk level and what actions may increase the risk level.
(iii) The provision of guidance and recommendations for pursuing adaptation measures, customised for the specific user, based on their specific circumstances, and assessed risk level. This feature is connected to the above feature and primarily provides the user with recommendations for reducing their risk level (based on their assessed score), or for protecting their businesses.
The BBCR tool was officially launched in a webinar entitle "relevance and usefulness on disaster risk reduction tools", hosted by the Ceylon Chambers of Commerce, with the participation of all project partners and key stakeholders. The tool is currently freely available to interested end users, while it is in the test-flight mode on the iOS and Android platforms. Although the BBCR tool has not yet been taken over by any local owner in Sri Lanka, an institutionalisation plan has been developed. This plan focuses on the public sector, following the active involvement of various government ministries during project implementation, and includes components of both a business proposal and product delivery mechanisms for making the BBCR tool readily available to end users. Additionally, it has been calculated that if properly implemented, the benefits of the BBCR tool significantly outweighs all related costs, making the tool an attractive asset to policy makers, practitioners and business owners aiming to reduce the impacts of climate change related flooding in Sri Lanka and the wider region.

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Innovative business models and tools for building climate resilience of SMEs

Time consumed

Lead Nordic partner

Country of Lead Nordic partner

Local partner(s)

Other partner(s)

NCF grant size

Total project cost

Technologies

Methods

Country of implementation:

Description

Objective

Results

Sustainable Development Goals

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