Responding to COVID-19: UNIDO launches Guidance for business continuity and recovery for MSME

27 June marks the Day of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. On that occasion UNIDO is launching a publication titled “Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis – Pathway to Business Continuity & Recovery. Guidance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)” to provide guidance in responding to the crisis and for building a better future.

Given the increasing reach of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, more and more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) are expecting or already facing lockdowns and knock-on effects resulting from disruptions in the supply chains they are integrated with.

It is intended specifically for owners, managers, and staff of MSME, who seek some orientation while dealing with the effects the pandemic may have on their businesses. This Guidance is delivered by using lead questions, which will help affected MSMEs to decide how to best move forward. On the one hand, this Guidance will help firms to focus on where to begin and how to continue on a path of recovery, but also strengthen business continuity planning processes. The Guidance can be used by all types of enterprises and also provides many hints on existing international standards, as well as sources related to transforming industry that enterprises could refer to in support of their actions, as they address the threats or disruptions their activities are facing.

The Guidance is being presented at a virtual event on 25 June 2020 celebrating the International MSME Day organized by the Permanent Mission of Argentina, UNCTAD, DESA, UNIDO and the International Council for Small Business (ICSB). This event brings together ministers, high level policy makers, leadership of major international organizations, business associations, academia, other key stakeholders in the private and public sector to contribute to the collective voice of MSME solidarity. The event will provide an opportunity for an interactive stakeholder dialogue on how to support MSMEs in these difficult times, so they can seize the moment to enhance their role and impact on sustainable and inclusive growth in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and of the post COVID-19 resurgence.

Download the English version of the Guidance here.

For more information contact Fabio Russo (F.Russo [at] unido.org (F[dot]Russo[at]unido[dot]org))