Presentation by Ms. Delphine Clement, International Trade Centre, as part of the Peer Learning Summit (PLS) in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

1. ITC T4SD HUBS
“ONE STOP SHOPS” FOR SUSTAINABILITY
T4SD HUBS
The International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, promotes the
transitioning of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to the green economy through its ITC T4SD Hubs.
The ITC T4SD Hubs provide integrated solutions to SMEs in the implementation of green business practices. Hosted
by Trade and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs), the Hubs act as one-stop shops for SMEs to build green business
strategies to access green finance and international markets for sustainable products.
The United Nations Environment Programme defines the
green economy as: “one that results in improved human
well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is low
carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive”.
While the green economy provides market opportunities
for SMEs based on an increasing consumer demand
for traceable and sustainably produced products, it
challenges SMEs to become environmentally, socially and
economically more sustainable.
Due to the lack of capacity and knowledge of SMEs to
develop green business practices, they need to be
supported in reducing their environmental and climate
risks, increasing their resource efficiency and the social
inclusiveness of their business models in order to
participate in the transition to a green economy.
The ITC T4SD Hubs offer the needed technical assistance
for SMEs to build the capacity and knowledge to implement
green business practices through its services focusing on
the key aspects such as sustainability standards, climate
resilience and resource efficiency.
Background
The Hubs implement and coordinate a coaching
programme aimed at strengthening the implementation of
sustainable business practices of SMEs.
The coaching programme is implemented as a blended
learning approach of e-learning and customized face to
face coaching sessions and incorporates ITC’s existing
tools and services. The programme will be rolled out
during a 2-year period (per Hub) and will cover:
1. Circular Economy: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
2. Sustainability Map and Sustainability Standards
3. Climate Resilience Toolkit
4. Positioning sustainable products in the international
market
5. Accessing green finance and markets for sustainable
products
The T4SD Hub Offerings
Climate
Resilience
Circular
Economy
Sustainability
Standards
Positioning
Sustainable
Products
Access to
Green Finance

2. Together with local implementing partners and Trade
and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs), the modules
and duration of the coaching programme are selected
according to the identified needs and national or sectorial
priority areas.
The Hubs will be connected through a digital network
leveraging Sustainability Map and communicate with each
other to exchange best practices and lessons learned.
Dynamic communication between the Hubs is essential for
avoiding duplication of efforts and transferring expertise
and knowledge.
The platform will also enable information-sharing of public
materialsandrelevantinformation producedandpromoted
by the Hubs such as training materials, case studies and
events. All information generated in the Community will be
freely accessible by SMEs globally.
The Global Hubs Network
For more information:
Email: sustainability@intracen.org
Telephone: +41 22 730 0399
Internet: www.intracen.org/t4sd
T4SD Hubs
Customized coaching Implementation PhasePreliminary Phase
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
STEP 7
Sensitization
on the benefits
of a green
economy
Circular
Economy:
Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle
Sustainability
Map and
sustainability
standards
Climate
Resilience
Toolkit
Accessing
markets and
finance
Implementing
sustainable
business
practices
Positioning
sustainable
products in the
international
markets