Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the economy across the globe and one of the major drives for innovation and development. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically affected global economy and severely disturbed the financial stability, operations and other aspects of business, among which the MSME sector is hit the hardest. In this regard, medium to long-term interventions are needed to build capacities of MSMEs on accounting and reporting on the environmental and social issues, including to improve MSMEs access to finance which is of paramount importance for their survival as well as green and inclusive resurgence. UNCTAD will contribute towards this objective by building capacity of MSMEs to use its existing tools such as "Guidance on core indicators for entity reporting on contribution towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (GCI)" and Training manual on its application.
Objectives
The initiative envisages adaptation of the GCI into UN official languages in addition to its English version, to ensure its further promotion and ease of practical application in region- and country-specific environments, particularly for the MSME sector. UNCTAD Webinar Series on SDG Reporting by companies, including MSME —— The adaption of "Guidance on core indicators for entity reporting on contribution towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (GCI)" are planned to take place online in six UN official languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
The webinar on adaption of the GCI in China will be delivered to provide information on the main aspects of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) reporting and the GCI, highlight findings from case studies conducted in the region and other countries, and discuss further steps on the GCI implementation, including in the MSME sector, in China. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of MSMEs in developing countries and economies in transition to mitigate the economic and social impact of the global Covid-19 crisis to seize the opportunity on building a greener and more inclusive economy.
Target audience
Representatives of government agencies in the areas of sustainability and SDG reporting and MSME promotion, professional accountancy organizations, national and regional entrepreneurship and MSME development agencies, companies including from the MSME sector, investing community, and academia in China.
