In an unpredictable world marked by increasing cyber threats, natural disasters, technological failures, and geopolitical instabilities, robust Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning (BCDRP) has become an indispensable strategic imperative for every organization, particularly for financial institutions like Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs). BCDRP goes beyond mere IT recovery; it encompasses a holistic framework designed to ensure that critical business functions can continue operating with minimal disruption in the face of adverse events, safeguarding member services, protecting assets, and maintaining regulatory compliance. For SACCOs, the ability to rapidly recover from a crisis—be it a system outage, a fire, or a widespread pandemic—is paramount to preserving member trust, preventing financial losses, and upholding their mission of community support. A well-articulated and regularly tested BCDR plan provides the roadmap for resilience, allowing the SACCO to swiftly adapt and restore normalcy, thereby protecting its reputation and long-term viability. Without a comprehensive and actionable Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning framework, these vital institutions risk operational paralysis, severe financial repercussions, loss of member confidence, and potentially irreversible damage, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• SACCO Managers and CEOs
• IT Managers and Directors
• Risk Managers and Analysts
• Operations Managers
• Compliance Officers
• Business Unit Heads
• Internal Auditors
• Crisis Management Team Members
• Strategic Planners
• Anyone responsible for organizational resilience and incident response

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR).
• Learn about the stages of the BCDR planning lifecycle and best practices.
• Acquire skills in conducting Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and risk assessments.
• Comprehend techniques for developing comprehensive BC and DR strategies.
• Explore strategies for implementing, testing, and maintaining BCDR plans.
• Understand the importance of crisis communication and incident response management.
• Gain insights into regulatory requirements and industry standards for BCDR.
• Develop a practical understanding of fostering a culture of resilience within a SACCO.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

• Defining Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR), and Resilience.
• Why BCDRP is critical for SACCOs: protecting members, assets, and reputation.
• Common threats and risks to SACCO operations (natural, technological, human-made).
• The benefits of a comprehensive BCDR plan.
• Overview of BCDR standards and best practices (e.g., ISO 22301, industry guidelines).

Module 2: BCDR Planning Lifecycle

• The phases of BCDR planning: Policy, Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, Maintenance.
• Establishing a BCDR policy and governance structure.
• Forming a BCDR planning team and defining roles and responsibilities.
• Gaining management commitment and resource allocation.
• Integrating BCDR with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).

Module 3: Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

• Purpose and objectives of a Business Impact Analysis.
• Identifying critical business functions and processes in a SACCO.
• Determining Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs).
• Quantifying the financial and operational impact of disruptions.
• Data collection methods for BIA (interviews, workshops, surveys).

Module 4: Risk Assessment for BCDR

• Identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities specific to SACCO environments.
• Assessing the likelihood and impact of various disruptive events.
• Analyzing existing controls and their effectiveness.
• Prioritizing risks that require BCDR planning.
• Mapping risks to critical business functions identified in the BIA.

Module 5: Developing BC Strategies and Plans

• Strategies for maintaining continuity of critical business functions (e.g., manual workarounds, alternate sites).
• Developing BC plans: plan structure, content, and procedures.
• Crisis management and incident response planning for non-IT disruptions.
• Resource requirements for BC (personnel, equipment, facilities, third-party support).
• Communication strategies during a business disruption.

Module 6: Disaster Recovery (DR) Strategies and Plans

• DR for IT systems: data backup and recovery, offsite storage.
• Strategies for IT infrastructure recovery (e.g., hot sites, warm sites, cold sites, cloud-based DR).
• Network recovery and telecommunications resilience.
• Application recovery and data synchronization.
• Developing detailed DR plans for critical IT systems.

Module 7: BCDR Plan Testing, Maintenance, and Awareness

• Importance of regular testing: tabletop exercises, walkthroughs, simulations, full-scale drills.
• Evaluating test results and identifying areas for improvement.
• Maintaining the BCDR plan: periodic reviews, updates based on changes.
• Training and awareness programs for all employees on their BCDR roles.
• Creating a culture of resilience and preparedness within the SACCO.

Module 8: Crisis Communication and Regulatory Compliance

• Developing an effective crisis communication plan for stakeholders (members, staff, regulators, media).
• Public relations and reputation management during a crisis.
• Understanding regulatory requirements and guidelines for BCDR in financial services.
• Reporting obligations to supervisory bodies during and after an incident.
• Legal implications of BCDR failures and best practices for compliance.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.