The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) is coordinating the implementation of the I-GO pilot initiative in Africa to upscale resource efficiency efforts of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This global initiative is designed especially for SMEs to simplify access to resource efficiency support services most relevant to their specific activity, location, and business needs.
Its core feature is an easy-to-use self-assessment tool that quickly determines an SME’s resource efficiency status and provides a tailored list of recommendations along with specific support services most relevant to their needs.
The aim of this tool is to help SMEs develop a resource efficiency strategy and implement targeted actions in a range of areas, such as energy and waste management, material efficiency and chemical sustainability.
The basis of this self-assessment tool is the SME Support Centre - an online database that brings together the vast array of support services available on a country and global level.
To date it hosts nearly 400 resources, including technical guidance, tools and case studies, with financial solutions, training programmes and technical assistance to follow from leading organisations and experts from around the world.
The pilot deployment of the I-GO initiative in Africa will enable to test out its approach and tools with the objective to adapt its offer to the regional and national context.
The NCPC SA, who is facilitating this effort on behalf of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), invites all organisations involved in resource efficiency, including international development organisations, government organisations, business associations, NGOs, SME service providers and multinational companies, to participate in this project.
Joining the I-GO Africa network offers numerous benefits to partnering organisations. It enables them to:
- Promote their resource efficiency support services such as online tools, technical guides, case studies, training solutions and financial incentives to be included in the SME Support Centre database for increased uptake by SMEs.
- Help their network of SMEs improve their resource efficiency by building awareness of the I-GO tools
- Engage with a wide network of other I-GO partners in their country to share resource efficiency experiences and best practices
The I-GO initiative was developed by the Green Industry Platform, with the support of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and is being deployed in collaboration with the Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs) initiative .
For more information, please contact: [email protected] to join the I-GO Africa network.