During recent years, thousands of entrepreneurs have played a role in Turkey’s rapid economic growth, with many forming new small businesses in communities throughout the country. These small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of local economies. At the same time, however, there is a high risk of natural disasters in the country, which can disrupt lives, harm economies, and devastate the local environment. Over the past decade alone, earthquakes have cost Turkey an estimated $2.9 bn (£1.7bn). While large organisations often have the resources to prepare, small ones typically do not, even though the risk of business interruption is much greater because their operations are concentrated in one location or community.
In response to these factors, the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Disaster Management, together with The UPS Foundation, recommended Turkey as a pilot site for developing a collaborative approach to promote disaster resilience among SMEs. Humanitarian aid and disaster recovery are essential to responding effectively to disasters but they are only part of the equation. Preparedness is also vital. By building resilience, implementing effective response systems and helping communities rebuild, the entire system of disaster preparedness and response can be more successful.
The resulting program is “Sağlam Kobi”, which means “robust small business.” It is a collaborative program led by the Corporate Social Responsibility Association of Turkey, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center (CCC), The UPS Foundation and the World Economic Forum to transform small business disaster preparedness in Turkey. The project is designed to address the three main reasons that SMEs are not prepared for disasters: they don’t have the time to create their own disaster preparedness programs, they lack funds to pay for existing tools, and they need training to apply the tools if they acquire them. Sağlam Kobi brings Turkish SMEs the Disaster Resistant Business (DRB) Toolkit: an established, successful system that was originally developed in the US and which has now been adapted for Turkey. A UPS Foundation grant pays for the toolkit licenses for SMEs and underwrites a training program organised by the Corporate Social Responsibility Association of Turkey. It also raises awareness amongst SMEs of disaster risks, and teaches them how to prepare and respond.
The project was launched in Istanbul at an international event, with attendees representing many organisations from both inside and outside Turkey. Shortly afterwards the training began, and currently reaches tens of thousands of SMEs around the country, often with the support of local chambers of commerce. This success has attracted the attention of other SMEs, and also interest from large businesses in Turkey that may incorporate aspects of Sağlam Kobi into their own disaster preparedness systems. The online Sağlam Kobi Disaster Preparedness Toolkit is now available to more than 300,000 businesses.
Sağlam Kobi benefits the people and economies of both Turkey and the US, because it promotes disaster resilience, as well as communication, collaboration and goodwill between the public and private sectors of both nations. The next time there is a significant earthquake or other natural disaster in Turkey, the affected entrepreneurs and SMEs will be better prepared to restore their economic prosperity and renew the vitality of their communities.
Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr. is executive vice president of the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
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