Reframing Strategic Resilience: A Cross-Sectoral Analysis of Adaptive Capacity in Emerging Economie

Abstract

Strategic resilience has become a critical imperative for businesses, governments, and institutions in emerging economies, where volatility, uncertainty, and rapid change are defining features of the operating environment. Traditional approaches to resilience often emphasize reactive measures—crisis response, risk mitigation, and recovery. However, this paper argues for a reframing of strategic resilience as a dynamic, adaptive capacity that enables proactive transformation in the face of disruptions.

Through a cross-sectoral analysis (encompassing finance, healthcare, agriculture, and technology), this article explores how organizations in emerging economies build adaptive resilience by leveraging innovation, institutional flexibility, and collaborative ecosystems. Drawing on case studies from countries such as India, Brazil, Nigeria, and Vietnam, we identify key drivers of resilience, including digital transformation, policy agility, and decentralized governance.

The findings suggest that strategic resilience is not merely about survival but about thriving amid disruption—a shift from defensive postures to anticipatory adaptation. The paper concludes with policy and managerial implications for fostering resilience in volatile economic landscapes.

1. Introduction

Emerging economies face a paradox: while they exhibit high growth potential, they are also disproportionately exposed to systemic shocks—economic crises, climate change, geopolitical instability, and pandemics. Conventional risk management frameworks, often imported from developed economies, fall short in addressing these complexities.

This paper proposes a reframed concept of strategic resilience, moving beyond robustness (the ability to withstand shocks) toward adaptive capacity (the ability to evolve in response to changing conditions). We analyze how different sectors in emerging economies cultivate this capacity through innovation, institutional design, and cross-sector collaboration.

1. Introduction

Emerging economies face a paradox: while they exhibit high growth potential, they are also disproportionately exposed to systemic shocks—economic crises, climate change, geopolitical instability, and pandemics. Conventional risk management frameworks, often imported from developed economies, fall short in addressing these complexities.

This paper proposes a reframed concept of strategic resilience, moving beyond robustness (the ability to withstand shocks) toward adaptive capacity (the ability to evolve in response to changing conditions). We analyze how different sectors in emerging economies cultivate this capacity through innovation, institutional design, and cross-sector collaboration.

3. Cross-Sectoral Analysis of Adaptive Resilience

3.1 Financial Sector: Fintech and Crisis Response

• Case Study: Nigeria’s Fintech Boom

  • During economic crises, traditional banking systems faltered, but fintech platforms like Flutterwave and Opay thrived by enabling digital payments and microlending.

  • Adaptive Strategy: Regulatory sandboxes allowed rapid innovation while managing risks.

3.2 Healthcare: Pandemic Resilience

• Case Study: India’s Vaccine Production

  • Despite initial COVID-19 chaos, India’s Serum Institute scaled up production through public-private partnerships.

  • Adaptive Strategy: Modular manufacturing and decentralized distribution networks.

3.3 Agriculture: Climate Adaptation

• Case Study: Kenya’s Mobile-Based Farming

  • Platforms like M-Pesa and iCow provide farmers with real-time weather data and microloans.

  • Adaptive Strategy: Leveraging mobile penetration to bypass infrastructure gaps.

3.4 Technology: Digital Governance

• Case Study: Estonia’s E-Governance Model (Replicated in Emerging Markets)

• Digital IDs and blockchain-based systems reduce bureaucracy and enhance transparency.

• Adaptive Strategy: Policy experimentation in controlled environments (e.g., “regulatory sandboxes”).