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Action and learning about Small and Micro Enterprises as a pathway to a
green economy in the Caribbean
Caribbean Natural Resources InstituteGreen Economy Coalition Global Meeting
2 September 2014
SME Action Learning project• Goal: to explore how to nurture Small and Micro Enterprises
(SMEs), including those operating in the informal or semi-formal sectors, to be an engine for green and inclusive economic transformation in the Caribbean using an action research and learning approach with GE ALG members and other key partners in the region.
• The overall learning question is: “How can we catalyse, support and empower SMEs so that they bring co-benefits (economic, environmental sustainability, social equity) and address issues of the informal sector?”
Project activities
o Establish Action Research and Learning Group on SMEs in the Caribbean and confirm TORs for members of the ALG SMEs;
o Potential members to include SME leaders as well as representatives of key agencies and networks supporting SMEs from civil society, government, and inter-governmental technical agencies
o Research and Learning Agenda on SMEs in the Caribbean
Challenges identified • How can a culture be built in support agencies that show
respect, heart and ethics in the provision of support to SMEs?
• How can NGOs and Government agencies partner to provide support?
• How can we facilitate relationships with equity and respect?
• How are we measuring success in entrepreneurship?
• How to effectively influence policy?
Scope of the research and action learning agenda
• The agenda: to address a set of questions about the use of action learning as an approach to develop the SME sector and more specifically in the context of a green economy.
• The questions that the SME ALG will tackle should be of assistance to governments, SMEs, support agencies, to make decisions , formulate approaches and instruments that would support the growth of SMEs.
Research and learning questionsSMEs and the greening of the economy
• What are the characteristics of a green SME?
• What are the drivers and opportunities for SMEs in the green economy?
The benefits of green SMEs
• How can SMEs and support agencies work together to allow SMEs to grow in the green economy, fostering social inclusion, cultural resilience?
Measuring progress
• How can we measure the value of green SME businesses?
Research and learning questions
• What kinds of policy measures, institutions and programmes are able to catalyse, support and scale up SMEs?
Influencing policy ...
• Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprises : Green SME national policy for Trinidad and Tobago – in draft.
• The SME ALG provided recommendations and input for the policy.
