Fostering green business growth
Photo © Unsplash/Stanislav Kondratiev
Online
Fostering green business growth
16–27 November 2026
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
Environmental challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and pollution are reshaping how economies and businesses operate. In this context, green businesses are becoming essential drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and job creation. They use resources more efficiently, reduce environmental impact, and provide goods and services that support more sustainable consumption patterns. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to this transition. However, many face significant barriers when trying to go green, including limited access to finance, knowledge, technology, and markets. Supporting green business growth therefore requires more than awareness raising. It requires: - an enabling business environment, and - targeted interventions that address the specific constraints faced by SMEs Governments, business membership organizations, SME agencies, and development practitioners all play a key role in shaping these conditions. This course provides practical tools and frameworks to support green business growth, combining: - business-level approaches - ecosystem thinking - policy design and implementation
Who attends this course?
This course is designed for professionals involved in supporting enterprise development and green transitions, including: ¿ Employers' and business membership organizations ¿ SME agencies and business support institutions ¿ Business development service providers and incubators ¿ Development practitioners working on green economy and SMEs ¿ Professionals in green finance and entrepreneurship support ¿ Development agencies and donor programmes ¿ Civil society organizations supporting sustainable businesses
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the business case for green growth and key sustainability drivers
- Identify opportunities and barriers for SMEs in the green transition
- Apply ecosystem approaches to support green enterprises
- Design and assess effective support programmes and policy mixes
- Strengthen green business development services (BDS)
- Facilitate linkages between SMEs, finance providers, and support institutions
- Develop a practical action plan tailored to their own context
Main topics
The course combines conceptual understanding with practical tools across the following areas:
- The business case and drivers for green business growth
- Challenges and opportunities for SMEs in the green transition
- Green business models, products, and operational practices
- Tools and services to support businesses in going green
- Certification, standards, and sustainability practices
- Access to green finance and investment
- The role of institutions and support ecosystems
- Policy approaches and instruments for fostering green business growth
Course structure and methodology
The course runs over two weeks and combines live online learning with self-paced study.
Learning components include:
- Live webinars with ITCILO trainers and guest experts
- Self-guided modules on the eCampus
- Case studies and practical exercises
- Group discussions and peer exchange
Participants will:
- Learn key concepts through structured content
- Apply tools to real-world challenges
- Reflect on their own institutional and country context
Final assignment
A key component of the course is the final assignment, which will be submitted up to one month after the course ending.
Participants will:
- Develop a concise action plan or project proposal
- Address real challenges in their country or organization
- Design possible interventions.
Each participant will receive individual feedback on their project, helping them refine their ideas and strengthen their approach.
This ensures that learning is directly translated into practical, context-specific outcomes.
Why should I join?
This course will help you move from understanding green business concepts to designing and implementing concrete solutions.
- Gain practical tools to support SMEs in going green
- Learn how to design effective policies and support programmes
- Strengthen your ability to work across institutions and stakeholders
- Exchange experiences with a global community of practitioners
- Develop a real-world action plan you can apply immediately
The course prepares participants to act as change agents in the transition to a greener, more inclusive economy.
Practical information
The course will be delivered in English and it will be held fully online
The tuition fee for this course is 1.095 Euros.
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive an official ITCILO Certificate of Participation (digital credential).
How to apply
If you wish to participate in this course, please fill in the online application form available here:
https://oarf2.itcilo.org/DST/A9719162/en
Applications must be received no later than 9 November 2026.
A limited number of partial scholarships may be available for qualified candidates from developing countries. Requests will be considered only after submission of a complete application.
If the participation is sponsored by an institution, the application should be accompanied by a letter from the sponsoring organization.
