ESG for SME support organizations: from standards to implementation
Photo © Midjourney
Online
ESG for SME support organizations: from standards to implementation
8–26 June 2026
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are steadily influencing how businesses operate and interact with society. Although the concept of "ESG" is often associated with large corporations, many ESG-related frameworks and concepts are becoming increasingly important for small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) striving for sustainability and resilience. Recent legislative developments emphasize good environmental and human rights practices, while large enterprises and multinational companies continue to demand adherence to social and environmental governance standards. These expectations are communicated through codes of conduct, supplier requirements, procurement and tender requirements, addressing issues such as working conditions, responsible business practices, environmental management, including energy use, water consumption, and waste management, and integrity concerns related to fraud and corruption. SMEs are expected to adapt to these evolving demands, as they are significantly reshaping both local economies and global supply chains. Understanding these ESG-related expectations is crucial in this context. ESG represents the key elements that define and operationalize a sustainable and responsible enterprise, but it should not be seen as a rigid framework or a specific standard. Integrating ESG-related policies and business practices presents both challenges and opportunities for SMEs. Limited resources, lack of expertise, inconsistent regulations and diverging or cloudy expectations can hinder their ability to adopt sustainable practices. On the other hand, embracing ESG as an additional business management layer can improve competitiveness, productivity, and access to finance. In this evolving landscape, intermediary organizations with a mandate for enterprise development both from the public and the private sector, including financial institutions can play a key role. They guide SMEs in meeting ESG expectations by advising on risk management, reporting, and the integration of sustainability considerations into their strategies, policies, and operations, ultimately enhancing business growth and resilience. Participants will gain an overview of essential topics, discussions, programs, initiatives, and tools that shape business practices of SMEs in terms of ESG. This course aims to equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to support SMEs in embracing ESG, ensuring their long-term success in a rapidly changing global market.
Who attends this course?
This course is designed for organizations and individuals supporting SMEs, such as: - SME support agencies. - Business development service providers. - Employer and Business Membership Organizations. - Financial service providers. - Import and export promotion agencies. - Other agencies or development partners dedicated to enhancing SME productivity and competitiveness.
Backgorund
This course explores how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices are increasingly shaping the way businesses operate, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). While ESG is often linked to large corporations, SMEs are facing growing expectations from legislation, multinational companies, and supply chain partners to address issues such as working conditions, responsible business practices, environmental management, and integrity.
Participants will learn how ESG can support SMEs in strengthening sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness, while also addressing common challenges such as limited resources, unclear regulations, and capacity gaps. The course highlights the role of intermediary organizations, including development agencies and financial institutions, in guiding SMEs on ESG risk management, reporting, and the integration of sustainability into business strategies.
Through practical examples, initiatives, and tools, the course provides the knowledge needed to help SMEs understand ESG expectations and successfully adapt to a rapidly evolving global business environment.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will:
- Strengthen their ability to support SME sustainability and ESG practices.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of ESG-related frameworks, standards, and approaches and their relevance to SMEs. Examples include ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management), the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), the UN Global Compact, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among others.
- Be equipped to support SMEs navigate ESG expectations and requirements.
- Develop skills to provide effective advisory and training services to SMEs on ESG related issues.
What participants have said about this course:
"The quality of the content was great.
I learned a great deal about how to better support
MSMEs in ESG compliance – something that is often
overlooked."
"It will significantly improve our ESG services
and products for SMEs and will impact
our network positively."
Content
The training programme will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to ESG principles in sustainable business
- The business case and challenges of integrating ESG for SMEs
- How to support SMEs in their ESG journey
- Environmental management and green business strategies
- Stakeholders’ engagement
- Labour dimension of human rights
- Corporate governance and ethical practices
- Developing and implementing effective ESG strategies
- Managing sustainability across the value chain
- ESG reporting, communication, and compliance standards
- Leveraging ESG for market access and financial opportunities
Programme structure & methodology
This online course will be delivered over 15 days (3 weeks) through a blend of live webinars and self-paced study materials, which participants can access and complete at their convenience. The program includes:
Live webinars:
- Expert-led presentations, Q&A sessions, and interactive group discussions
- Key topics covered through case studies, real-life examples, and ready-to-use tools.
6 self-guided learning modules:
- Structured, interactive content for participants to complete at their own pace
- Accessible through ITC-ILO’s eCampus platform
During the sessions, participants will also have the possibility to further develop their skills by applying the acquired knowledge in group learning exercises.
The course will close with a mandatory final assignment that will enable participants to showcase their newly acquired knowledge and put it into action.
The total time investment for the completion of the course will be 30 hours.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation. Certification will be provided through secure digital credentials to ensure validity and prevent fraud
Practical information
The course will be delivered in English and it will be held fully online. Asynchronous learning modules will be released weekly through our e-campus, allowing participants to complete them at their own pace throughout the course.
After successfully completing all required activities, participants obtain an official ITCILO Certificate of Participation in Digital Credentials Format.
The tuition fee for this course is 1.095 Euros.
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/A9719149/en
Applications must be received no later than 1 June 2026.
If the participation is sponsored by an institution, the application should be accompanied by a letter from the sponsoring organization.
More Information
For more information, please contact us at: enterprise@itcilo.org
