FIJI’S business community has been urged to strengthen its disaster preparedness and recovery plans following the launch of a new Business Resilience Toolkit designed to help companies better respond to cyclones, flooding and economic shocks.
The toolkit, launched by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), aims to provide businesses with practical guidance to anticipate, withstand, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.
The initiative was launched in partnership with the Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council (FBDRC), with support from development partners including the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNDP and the Fijian Government.
Speaking at the launch, FCEF Vice President Rowena Taito said the toolkit was developed after months of collaboration and consultation, particularly with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which continue to face repeated disruptions from natural disasters and global economic pressures.
“For businesses in Fiji, disruption is not a distant risk,” Taito said.
“We have lived through cyclones, floods, health crises, supply chain breakdowns and economic shocks.”
She said international disruptions were also increasingly affecting Fiji through rising costs, supply chain pressures and wider economic uncertainty.
Research shows nearly 80 per cent of MSMEs in Fiji are affected by cyclones and flooding at least once every year.
“When a business is disrupted, it is not just revenue at stake,” Taito said.
“It is jobs, livelihoods, families and communities.”
She said the toolkit includes checklists, business continuity templates, disruption assessment forms and recovery guidance tailored specifically for Fiji’s business environment.
The resources are designed to help businesses answer key questions about preparedness, continuity and recovery during emergencies.
“We want every business, from small family enterprises to large organisations, to be able to answer these questions with confidence – are we prepared, do we have a plan, how long can we operate during a disruption and how quickly can we recover?”
Taito pointed to lessons from Tropical Cyclone Winston, saying that larger companies with structured continuity plans recovered faster, while smaller suppliers and businesses within the same value chain struggled.
“If our MSMEs and smaller suppliers are not prepared, the entire value chain is at risk,” she said.
She said the launch marked only the beginning of a wider effort, with FCEF and FBDRC planning awareness sessions, training and outreach programs across urban and rural communities to help businesses use the toolkit effectively.
‘Resilience is not an option’
Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Mitieli Cama, said the launch comes at a critical time as Fiji continues to face increasingly complex risks linked to climate change and economic instability.
“Fiji continues to face an increasingly complex risk environment,” Cama said.
He said tropical cyclones, flooding, coastal hazards and the current food crisis were affecting communities, sectors and businesses across the country.
“As a small island developing state, resilience is not an option for Fiji. It is essential to our national development, our economy and the wellbeing of our people.”
Cama said that while government agencies play an important role in strengthening preparedness and disaster coordination, national resilience cannot be achieved solely by the government.
“It requires strong partnerships across government, the private sector, development partners, civil society and communities,” he said.
He described businesses as critical to Fiji’s disaster response and recovery systems, noting they also serve as employers, transport providers, logistics operators and community supporters during emergencies.
“The ability of businesses to continue operating or recover quickly after a disaster directly affects workers, families and communities across Fiji,” he said.
Cama said the toolkit was especially relevant for rural and maritime communities, where many livelihoods depend on small businesses, farmers, fishers, market vendors and local suppliers who are highly exposed to disasters.
He added that the toolkit also highlighted the importance of business continuity planning and risk financing measures, such as parametric insurance, to help businesses recover more quickly after climate-related events.
“The true value of this toolkit will depend on how widely it is used across Fiji,” he said.
“Preparedness should not be viewed as an additional burden, but as an investment in continuity, jobs, livelihoods and long-term sustainability.”
