MSME Resilience Expert in Serbia

Organizational Context

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the UN system's focal point for coordinating disaster reduction efforts and ensuring synergies. This consultancy is part of a regional initiative to strengthen transboundary collaboration and capacities in disaster risk reduction and early warning systems in the Western Balkans, with a focus on enhancing MSME resilience in Serbia.

Job Purpose

This role aims to enhance the resilience of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Serbia. The consultant will institutionalize a Training of Trainers program within the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, utilizing UNDRR's Resilience Maturity Assessment tool and providing tailored business continuity planning and crisis simulation guidance. The purpose is to strengthen MSME capacities for disaster risk assessment and business continuity management, foster public-private dialogue, and encourage investments in MSME resilience, thereby contributing to the DRR financing pillar of a broader regional initiative.

Responsibilities

The consultant will provide technical support to build MSME resilience in Serbia. Key duties include assessing existing MSME resilience needs, policy frameworks, and support services; adapting and promoting UNDRR's MSME resilience tools; establishing a sustainable Business Continuity Planning advisory service within the Serbian Chamber of Commerce; piloting adapted resilience tools and advisory approaches with MSMEs; and supporting dialogue among stakeholders to promote a sustainable enabling environment for MSME resilience. This involves developing and piloting crisis simulation exercise tools and working with government, financial institutions, business associations, and MSMEs.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of working experience in economic development, SMEs, business resilience, sustainable development, or disaster risk reduction is required. Experience supporting the resilience capacity of SMEs in Serbia is desirable.

Skills

Business continuity planning, crisis simulation, disaster risk assessment, economic development, SME resilience, public-private dialogue, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, adaptation of tools, training delivery.

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