Action and learning about Small and Micro Enterprises as a pathway to a green economy in the Caribbean

1. Action and learning about Small and
Micro Enterprises as a pathway to a
green economy in the Caribbean
Caribbean Natural Resources Institute
Green Economy Coalition Global Meeting
2 September 2014

2. 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?”

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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.

6. Research and learning questions
SMEs 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?

7. Research and learning questions
• What kinds of policy measures, institutions and
programmes are able to catalyse, support and scale
up SMEs?

8. 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.

9. Thank you for your attention!
www.canari.org

10. Thank you for your attention!
www.canari.org