The programme provides participants with tools and knowledge to effectively train and coach small and medium businesses that want to sell environmentally friendly products and/or make their processes more environmentally sustainable. The main content of the programme includes:

• What is green business? Drivers and challenges for small businesses
• Different approaches to green business
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Life-cycle management
• Resource efficiency and cleaner production
• Environmental management systems (EMS)
• Eco-certification and labelling
• Enterprise opportunities in the circular economy
• Sustainability Reporting for SMEs
• Introduction to green finance

Participants in the programme will be able to support small and medium businesses to establish themselves in the green economy. They will be able to effectively use the ITCILO/GIZ/UNEP Green Business Guide and Green Business Trainers’ Guide. These training materials take businesses step-by-step towards green business strategies that are environmentally, socially and economically viable.

This programme will provide participants with:

• A comprehensive understanding of green business fundamentals and their relevance for small and medium enterprises in developing countries.
• An analysis of the challenges, drivers, and approaches to adopting sustainable business strategies.
• Foundational knowledge of key environmental sustainability tools—including greenhouse gas emissions, life-cycle management, and resource efficiency—along with insight into their practical applications.
• Practical skills to design and deliver training programs that empower SMEs and entrepreneurs to
• Implement sustainable practices and build strategic partnerships.

The Certification Programme for Green Business Trainers consists of a core programme followed by a trainers’ certification phase.

PHASE 1: Core programme

The core programme will be delivered by experts from the ITCILO and guest speakers from partner organizations, from 15 September to 03 October 2025 as a combination of webinars and self-guided learning.

Participants will be offered:

• A daily webinar of 90 minutes (15 webinars in total)
• Six self-guided learning modules of 120 minutes each

Participants who successfully complete the core programme will obtain a certificate of participation.

The total time estimated investment during this phase is 40 hours.

PHASE 2: Trainers’ certification programme

After completion of the core progamme, participants have the possibility to complete the trainers’ certification programme. During this phase, they will demonstrate solid knowledge of green business content through:

• Marketing and delivering a green business training programme to at least 10 SMEs.
• Facilitating linkages with other service providers that promote green business (e.g. incubators, certification bodies, financial institutions etc.).

Participants who successfully complete the trainers’ certification programme, will obtain a certificate of achievement. The total time estimated investment during phase 2 is 50 hours.

The participants in the course have access to ITCILO’s electronic campus where they can find:

• Information about the course structure and experts
• Five self-guided learning modules
• All training materials used in the programme
• The ITCILO/GIZ Green Business Guide and Green Business Trainers’ Guide
• An introduction and discussion forum

The E-Campus will be accessible 24 hours a day, including for at least 4 weeks after the end of the course.

The webinars aim to deepen participants understanding of the content covered in the self-guided learning modules and in the Green Business Guide. Participants will have the chance to interact with key experts on the different topics. The webinars will also provide a forum for discussing and applying the contents of the self-guided learning modules and the Green Business Guide. 

The third week of the Certification Programme for Green Business Trainers will be structured around the ITCILO/GIZ/UNEP Green Business Guide and Green Business Training Manual. The Green Business Guide provides essential guidance to business owners on how to green their products, services and processes and how to effectively insert themselves in the green economy. The Green Business Guide covers the following topics:

1. Getting started: green business is good business
2. Green business: how to go about it
3. Life cycle management
4. Resource efficiency and cleaner production
5. Taking sustainability to the next level: Environmental Management Systems
6. Communicating with markets: Environmental certification
7. Working with others: Green value chains and circularity
8. Further support for your green business

Additionally, marketing and promotional materials will be provided for those participants wishing to

obtain the certificate of achievement, comprising phase I and II of the course.

The participation fee is 1.375 Euros

For information about scholarship opportunities, please write to us at enterprise@itcilo.org after you have filled out the application form.

Registrations 

Participants are invited to fill in the online application form by 08 September 2025.

More information

For more information, please contact us at: enterprise@itcilo.org.