Earthquake puts polycrisis in spotlight

28 March 2025: a day Zenebe Uraguchi will never forget. The HAFL Hugo P. Cecchini Institute director and Development Economics professor was in Myanmar when a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck.

“I think it highlights how fragile the context is,” Zenebe said, “and how polycrisis – a flux of crises ranging from war to economic decline and natural disasters – can emerge or intensify even after project design and implementation.”

Zenebe was there working on the Responsible Business Fund+ (RBF+) project, managed by a BFH and Helvetas consortium. Co-funded by the European Union, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of Denmark in Myanmar, the project addresses ongoing crises faced by Myanmar’s agrifood sector.

Building resilience in agricultural communities

Economic instability, conflict and climate change have placed immense pressure on farmers and agribusinesses, forcing many to abandon their land in search of more stable income. The recent earthquake further compounds these challenges.

While it does not directly assist farmers, the RBF+ project supports the agrifood sector by strengthening micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that provide farmers with essential resources. As the BFH project lead, Zenebe knows that this “behind the scenes” approach will have long-lasting benefits.

“RBF+ works indirectly to strengthen agricultural resilience by supporting agrifood MSMEs,” he said. “The project facilitates access to renewable energy, water-efficient technologies and climate-adaptive practices that improve business sustainability. By strengthening the MSMEs that supply farmers with inputs, technologies and services, it ensures that agricultural communities have the support they need to remain operational.”

Strengthening market connections and stability

Myanmar’s rural communities are frequently displaced due to armed conflict and economic hardship. Weak infrastructure and unreliable market access further threaten their stability. RBF+ works to strengthen these communities by improving supply chains and market access to help reduce the likelihood of forced migration. 

“And RBF+ also facilitates the introduction of sustainable technologies that complement traditional knowledge,” said Zenebe. “By making these technologies accessible, the project ensures that farmers can integrate modern solutions without abandoning their heritage.” 

Key targets: 

• Supporting primary producers and agrifood employees: Providing 55,000 people with increased income and job opportunities. 
• Strengthening MSMEs: Supporting 375 agrifood MSMEs, with 225 benefiting directly from grants. 
• Enhancing market access: Facilitating €6 million in new sales for 80 MSMEs. 
• Improving environmental resilience: Reducing energy consumption by 10 million KWH and saving 1.5 million litres of water. 
• Promoting gender equity and social inclusion: Ensuring women, ethnic minorities and marginalised groups have economic opportunities.