The Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) Programme supports the Philippines in mastering the challenge towards sustainable and inclusive growth. ProGED targets micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) which are the backbone of the country’s economy by putting a special emphasis on the tourism sector. In many cases, these MSMEs operate in a way that is harmful for the environment and also unsustainable from a competitive perspective.
Therefore, the programme’s objective is to ensure that MSMEs work in a manner that is increasingly environmentally friendly and climate smart. Moreover, governmental institutions concerned with economic development shall offer services and strategies in this regard. ProGED conducts climate smart related awareness campaigns for MSMEs and local authorities by providing information about suitable technologies and green financial products. Together with its partner organization, Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), ProGED works in 16 provinces across the Philippines as of 2015 and was successful in bringing the issue of green growth to the fore across a variety of sectors.