Press Releases
Over twenty (20) persons have completed the inaugural Business Continuity Planning for MSMEs Workshop held by the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED).
The three-day workshop took place at the CED’s Conference Room from 9-11 September and was attended by entrepreneurs who operate Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including eight women from the southern Grenadines-island of Canouan. The goal of the workshop was to empower the participants to equip their businesses with a robust Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to minimize disruptions and safeguard operations, strengthen their businesses’ ability to quickly recover and adapt to unforeseen challenges, and help them gain practical knowledge on risk management and business resilience that can be applied directly to their operations.
The CED workshop was supported by the United Nations Build Back Equal Project, which sponsored fourteen (14) women to attend. It covered a range of topics, including, Hazards in the Caribbean, Risk Identification and Business Impact Analysis, Mapping Critical Business Functions, and the Process of collecting and analysing data for developing a Business Continuity Plan. The workshop also examined activities to be conducted for business to continue after the impact of an event, and concluded with participants being sensitized on how to complete and test a plan, and how to think through potential impacts of hazards on MSMEs using various scenarios.
Speaking at the brief closing where participants were presented with certificates of completion, CED’s Training and Education Coordinator, Keisha Phillips, reflected on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Beryl, the La Soufriere volcanic eruptions of 2021 and other disruptions. She said that the need for MSMEs to have Business Continuity Plans was one of the lessons the CED recognized was crucial, along with the need for business owners and operators to be sensitized about the importance of having BCPs and be trained to develop their plans. She urged the participants to continue to work on their draft plans, and assured them that CED would continue to assist them to ensure they are completed and well developed.
The successful close of the workshop was met with gratitude from all participants, who represented several sectors, including tourism, education, healthcare services, and the cultural and creative industry, and who shared how the training would impact their businesses.
For some, the training was a revelation. Christiana Thompson-Davis, owner of the Garden of Eden Nursing Home, said the training has opened her eyes to a lot of things.
“I never thought about having an emergency plan. Now I know I have to put something in place to manage. It’s a lot, it was very informative to me and I would like to see this training more, especially in the area of nursing homes.”
Similarly, Canouan resident, Dalia Bowens of Nature’s Touch, explained, “Before Tuesday, I never thought of half of these things that we covered in this three-day session. I never thought of having a continuity plan. It also brought home to me the importance of data and making sure that you have your records up to date and have them stored where you can easily access them.”
Others praised the presentation like Godric Nichols of Nurtured by Nature Cooperative Society said, “It was very informative, educational and the presenter was very, very dynamic.”
He also expressed that he would like to see more men taking part in trainings.
For business owners affected by recent disasters, the training provided critical direction. Marslyn Lewis of Canouan, owner of Marslyn’s All Natural Seamoss Solutions, spoke about how hurricane Beryl impacted her business. She expressed that she was aware that changes needed to be made and systems needed to be put in place to mitigate some of the impact of the natural disaster. On a hopeful note, she said, “The training this week has given me a clear roadmap as to how I can go about that in a simplified way.” She also said that she was excited to go back and build up her business continuity plan.
Looking forward, another Canouan resident, Valcina Gregg of Aunty Val’s stated, “I would definitely be using the information given to us to implement in to my business so that I can make it more productive and successful for the future.”
CED’S Business Development Officer, Nisha Glasgow, facilitated the Business Continuity Planning for MSMEs Workshop.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has completed a high-impact Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) training for OECS Business Support Organisations (BSOs), aimed at transforming them into data-driven engines of growth and innovation.
Held at the St. Kitts & Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce from August 26 to 28, the three-day workshop was attended by Business Development Officer at the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED), Miss Nisha Glasgow. It brought together mid to senior-level professionals from chambers of commerce, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) support agencies, incubators, and industry associations across the region. The initiative, supported by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) Programme and the International Trade Centre (ITC), was part of a broader strategy to institutionalise performance measurement and elevate the role of BSOs as trusted contributors to national and regional business ecosystems.
In her opening remarks, Senior Technical Specialist of the Competitive Business Unit at the OECS Commission, Andrena Simon, framed the workshop’s purpose and reminded participants that
“Monitoring, evaluation, and planning is not just about collecting data, it is about learning, improving, and ensuring that our programmes deliver real value,” said an OECS representative during the opening session. “Together, we can build stronger organisations that are accountable, effective, and responsive to the needs of the private sector.”
The workshop covered a range of topics, including strategy mapping and results chains, Key Performance Indicator (KPI) frameworks, satisfaction measurement, and impact reporting. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises designed to align institutional goals with measurable outcomes, while also exploring tools for CRM optimization, dashboard development, and evidence-based advocacy.
At its core, the training reflects a paradigm shift: BSOs are no longer just service providers; they are becoming strategic data hubs and policy influencers. By equipping these institutions with the tools to track performance, assess impact, and communicate results, the OECS is laying the groundwork for smarter investments, more responsive policies, and a stronger, more resilient business ecosystem.
This initiative builds on the OECS Competitive Business Unit’s mandate to enhance the international competitiveness of MSMEs through capacity building and collaboration. It also reinforces the region’s commitment to aligning with global M&E standards, ensuring that Caribbean data is not only credible but comparable on the world stage.
As the OECS continues to champion innovation and integration, this workshop signals a new era of accountability and purpose for the region’s business support infrastructure.
Administrative Assistant to the OAS SVG Office, Diana Browne (R), supervises the signing of the agreement for the OUCCI Project. Signing L-R: CED General Manager Ronette Lewis; CED Training and Education Officer Keisha Phillips; and Director of Economic Planning, Ricardo Frederick.
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, 12 August 2025 – The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Development Cooperation Fund (DCF), has approved a US$125,000 (XCD$308,000) project for the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) that focuses on the impact of climate change on women and underserved communities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Unlocking Opportunities through Climate Change Initiatives (UOCCI) Project will be implemented during the OAS/DCF 2024-2027 programming cycle to support, recognize and foster the contributions of women and underserved communities to create a more inclusive and effective approach to climate action that benefits everyone.
The goal of the OUCCI Project is to reduce the impact of climate change to enhance livelihoods and increase economic opportunities for women and vulnerable communities. The project features a number of training sessions, forums and grant funding for climate action projects developed by groups/organizations.
On 12th August 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room, the OUCCI Project signing ceremony was held, with staff from the Ministries of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology and Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the local OAS office and CED witnessing the event.
The OUCCI Project is funded from US$1.875.000 in seed funding that was approved for the 2024-2027 DCF Programming Cycle dedicated to climate action, and guided by four thematic areas: Circular Economy (CE), Climate and Environmental Education, Development of Climate-Smart Skills, and the Impact of Climate Change on Women and Underserved Communities. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among fifteen (15) countries that are eligible to participate in the 2024–2027 OAS/DCF programming cycle under the four approved programs.
Between 2014 and 2024 the OAS/DCF has funded a number of projects in St Vincent and the Grenadines, including the US$83,000 Comprehensive Early Childhood Care project entitled “Restructuring the Early Childhood Curriculum in SVG” during the 2017-2021 cycle, and US$100,000 for CED’s Resilience through Innovation and Technology (RIT) MSME Recovery Programme during the 2021-2024 cycle.
The Development Cooperation Fund (DCF) of the Organization of American States (OAS) is supported by the annual voluntary contributions of OAS member states and is geared towards addressing their most urgent development needs, particularly among those with smaller and more vulnerable economies. In its programming, the Fund emphasizes institutional and human resource capacity building as the basis for sustainable development.
The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) is inviting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in its Business Continuity Planning (BCP) for MSMEs Workshop scheduled for September.
The training aims to help thirty (30) MSMEs develop their own Business Continuity Plans (BCP), ensuring that they are well-prepared to respond effectively to unforeseen disruptions – whether it be natural disasters, economic challenges, or other crises. It is scheduled to take place 9-11 September, at the UWI Global Campus, Kingstown, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The workshop will provide participants with the tools, knowledge, and practical steps needed to safeguard their operations and ensure business resilience in times of uncertainty. It is designed to help participants to equip their businesses with a robust plan to minimize disruptions and safeguard operations, strengthen their businesses’ ability to quickly recover and adapt to unforeseen challenges, and help them gain practical knowledge on risk management and business resilience that can be applied directly to your operations.
According to the CED, this BCP training is timely and necessary, especially after the experiences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the La Soufriere volcanic eruptions in 2021, and Hurricane Beryl last year.
“If there is anything that we have learned over the past five years, and now that we are into yet another active hurricane season, it is that it is critical for MSMEs to have a plan in place to manage their continuity in the event of any disruption,” says CED Training and Education Coordinator, Keisha Phillips. “However, Business Continuity Management or Planning is more than just “disaster recovery”; it is about preventing loss, and preparing for disruptive incidents that may cripple your operations for a period of time, or ruin your ability to function.”
“A Business Continuity Plan can help businesses when faced with such kind of disruptions, and the CED is offering this opportunity to empower MSME owners and their staff in getting in-depth understanding of the importance of Business Continuity Planning and the need to develop a plan for their businesses. We wish to urge businesses to take this training opportunity.”
Registration for this workshop closes on 20 August. Interested persons can register at: http://bit.ly/4m7v0vg .
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