Project Description
This mandate will provide technical assistance to the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) to scale up the framework and tools developed during the implementation of another project, “Strengthening SMEs in Thailand,” and share them with other ASEAN SMEs. Their project aimed to equip SMEs with knowledge on the available technologies and best practices to help them mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change on their businesses.
The technical assistance from CTIF will result in the development of Guidelines for gender-responsive environmental impact mitigation and area-based climate adaptation strategies for SMEs. The Guidelines will consist of, but not be limited to potential risks/impacts, available mitigation technologies and best practices for environmental impact mitigation and climate adaptation strategies, as they apply to a pre-identified set of sectors, types of geographical conditions, and types of climate change risks and/or impacts.
To ensure implementation sustainability, this mandate will include training implementing the Guidelines for selected SME representatives from around ASEAN (with particular focus on women-owned/led business and start-ups), and TISTR will maintain a website with information on the guidelines and monitor the guideline’s implementation. The guidelines will also be shared with government officials and policy-makers through the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) and will be considered for adoption and dissemination.
Problem Being Addressed by CTIF
The effects of climate change and natural disasters can severely disrupt or even halt the operations of businesses. This is particularly true for ASEAN countries, most of which are extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Most government policies and initiatives to support businesses in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts have been focused on large companies. Meanwhile, SMEs, the backbone of ASEAN economies, are often unprepared to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts and do not receive sufficient technical and financial support to build their resilience and sustain their businesses under its impacts. This is the capacity gap that TISTR’s project in Thailand addressed, and what TISTR hopes to scale up to SMEs in other ASEAN countries through this CTIF project.
Development Dimension
The project contributes to addressing the significance of SMEs as part of the climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the ASEAN region by helping SMEs build their resilience and sustain their businesses. Such efforts will eventually benefit the greater ASEAN economy, encouraging employment and reducing poverty, including women-led SMEs.