Eco-Inclusive Enterprises Driving Green Recovery Pathways

This snapshot report details how prioritising green and social enterprises delivers triple returns – economic, social and environmental – in both short and long terms.

The SDGs, Paris Agreement and global and local strategies for a green, circular economy are the world’s ambition for a more inclusive, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable life on earth. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely challenged global economic activities since 2019 and threatens to reverse progress towards achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

As we move towards medium- and long-term recovery targets, pursuing a sustainable and inclusive recovery becomes more and more urgent. This is why global organisations such as the OECD, UN, and the IMF have urged for a green recovery.

This report connects the role of eco-inclusive enterprises in a green recovery process, and explores the available enterprise support options, in order to analyse gaps and opportunities in realising such a green recovery.

The important role of small and medium sized enterprises in a green recovery

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economies worldwide, and eco-inclusive SMEs play an important role in delivering green recovery impact on the ground through their activities, products and services.

Eco-inclusive enterprises are businesses who offer products and services, as well as operate business models that are
environmentally beneficial (eco) and socially inclusive.

Read some of the findings from the report:

How to support eco-inclusive SMEs: A snapshot of the support landscape

A broad landscape of support providers; policy makers and intermediaries, have recognised the importance of eco-inclusive enterprises in the green recovery process, and are moving to provide important support options to these SMEs. However, naturally, there are existing gaps stemming from a historic lack of support for these actors, and the only nascent recognition of green recovery. As a result, there is a need for a comprehensive snapshot of the current support programme landscape to identify the potentials of the sector.

This report provides such a snapshot, closely analysing the status quo, gaps and potentials of eco-inclusive enterprises as well as the SME support landscape in different areas and locations. Building on in-depth interviews with enterprises and enterprise support providers, analyses of green recovery contributions as well as support potentials were identified to improve the existing support offer for eco-inclusive enterprises in a green recovery context.