Spearheading Sustainability of Women SMEs

Project Description

Invest in Africa (IIA) partnered with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) to enhance the integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainability and reporting by women small and medium enterprises (WSMEs). The initiative is targeted at Kenyan WSMEs, particularly those owned by young entrepreneurs, to adopt sustainable business practices. Through gap analysis, capacity building, and technical support, the WSMEs will develop and implement ESG strategies and action plans to be more responsible for society and attract pivotal stakeholders, including investors.

Activities

This Initiative by IIA and WUSC comes in handy to ensure that WSMEs can be part of the migration into ESG criteria and attract more stakeholders through enhanced accountability. The program will specifically sensitize the need for MSMEs to participate in green transition and the impact of gender inequality in building sustainable businesses. Through diagnosis and identification of the existing ESG integration gaps, the program will integrate business coaching support for the WSMEs to draft their ESG sustainability policies and action plans. The program further involves technical support for the WSMEs to effectively implement the ESG policies and action plans and incorporate the necessary structures and tools, including financing pitch decks, to target ESG investors and other stakeholders.

Outcomes

Through this program, WSMEs will be positioned to access sustainability funding, including climate change financing and trade, and collaborate with like-minded peers and ecosystem actors. The initiative will also ensure that the WSMEs can contribute to the shift to key ESG sustainability aspects, such as the global green transition. By implementing ESG policies and action plans, enterprises will enhance their responsibility to people within their operations and the communities in which they operate.