17/11/2023, 10:42
Magdalena Mactas Wicnudel
Communications Strategist BCR
Our Regional Offices across Asia (EAPRO and ROSA), Latin America and Eastern Africa are pioneering a new approach to building community resilience -by actively engaging businesses in climate, environmental and disaster risk initiatives. This approach, known as Business and Community Resilience (BCR), aims to leverage private entities’ influence, resources and capacities in support of local humanitarian and Disaster Management authorities' efforts to address the growing needs of disaster-stricken regions.
Asia has been severely affected by climate-related disasters, with children bearing the brunt of these crises.
In fact, recent data from UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Index shows alarming exposure rates: 120 million children to coastal flooding, 140 million to water scarcity, 210 million to cyclones, and 420 million to air pollution.
UNICEF’s partnership with businesses in resilience building is a paradigm shift in humanitarian programming – one that might play an integral part in battling the world’s growing crises.
This approach underscores the urgent need for new models of public-private collaboration to strengthen societal resilience. Looking at the role of Businesses, it leverages their capacity to protect children in crises and its responsibility towards their workforce and the communities in which they operate.
Resilience in action
Already, collaborations between UNICEF and the Danamon Care Foundation have contributed to increased Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) awareness about environmental impacts and risks and actions to follow before and during a disaster.
"While the business networks have better access to the sustainability focal points of the private sector, UNICEF influences at the highest level,” said Sadhana Mohan, Programme Officer, UNICEF Sri Lanka.
Businesses and their community networks are powerful channels to share this knowledge and increase preparedness, protecting communities where they operate and ensuring the continuity of their production cycle.
In Indonesia, UNICEF has developed training for businesses on Family Friendly Policies, including measures to reduce climate, environmental and disaster risks. Business sector representatives have already attended initial sessions, with more planned for the future.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, UNICEF aids in the creation of family-friendly business continuity plans and workplace policies. They also lead capacity development efforts in high-risk provinces in Vietnam, focusing on Children’s Rights, Business Principles, and human rights due diligence for businesses.
And, UNICEF Sri Lanka has partnered with Kelani Valley Plantations Ltd to tutor children in tea estates about climate change advocacy and disaster risk reduction. They've also teamed up with Gavesha Labs to build DIY weather stations, designed to educate children on weather variables and enhance their understanding of climate change.
"The private sector is vital in filling the skill and knowledge gap between the required green skills and the young workforce,” said Nicole Klaesener-Metzner, WASH Specialist, UNICEF ROSA. “Specifically, youth entrepreneurs will enable countries to embark on this journey for a just transition.”
As part of the BCR approach, grasping societies' interconnectedness is essential. When businesses act ahead of disasters in partnership with local Disaster Management authorities, preventive and preparedness measures can lower the risk of climate-linked disasters and protect communities and the most vulnerable families, saving billions in recovery efforts.
Approaches like BCR can help hasten response and recovery efforts and protect the most vulnerable – communities and children before, during and after crises.
Please reach out to Magdalena Mactas, Communications Specialist, Business and Community Resilience (BCR); EMOPS Geneva: mmactas@unicef.org
More information and links:
A business network consultation in collaboration with UNICEF ROSA and CBI
Blog post: The role of businesses in keeping children safe from disaster & climate impacts in East Asia Pacific
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