IDENTIFYING MULTI-HAZARD RESILIENCE GAPS AMONG MSMES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN KUPANG CITY, INDONESIA

Abstract

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Indonesia's economy, but remain highly vulnerable to multi-hazard threats, ranging from hydrometeorological disasters to socio-economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and Cyclone Seroja in 2021. Despite its crucial role, a significant gap exists regarding MSME-specific resilience mechanisms in high-risk archipelagos. This research addresses these institutional and preparedness gaps using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. First, a thematic bibliometric analysis of 30,288 articles (2019–2025) using VOSviewer mapped global trends, confirming that multi-hazard resilience in local contexts is understudied. Second, an empirical field study in Kupang City involved purposive sampling of disaster-affected MSMEs and in-depth interviews with key policy stakeholders. Findings reveal a critical 'resilience-preparedness gap': MSMEs prioritise short-term economic survival over proactive disaster mitigation. This is evidenced by the absence of basic safety infrastructure, accessibility, disaster education materials, and evacuation routes. Furthermore, structural policy gaps emerge as government monitoring databases stagnate due to budget refocusing. This study contributes a strategic framework bridging theoretical resilience and local realities, recommending digital data transformation, technical capacity building, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure long-term business sustainability.