UN Global Compact Network South Africa Launches SME Readiness Tool at B20 Event in Johannesburg

The first-ever G20 meeting hosted on the African continent has delivered a landmark contribution to global sustainable development: the launch of a digital SME Readiness Assessment Tool by the Global Compact Network South Africa (GCNSA). Announced at a Business 20 (B20) side event in Johannesburg on 17 November 2025, the tool is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises strengthen their sustainability capacity, improve reporting practices, and boost their readiness for future markets and financing opportunities.

Developed by GCNSA, the SME Readiness Assessment Tool is a user-friendly digital platform that evaluates a company’s sustainability maturity across eight key indicators aligned with internationally recognised frameworks and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These indicators provide a practical entry point for SMEs beginning their sustainability journey and a benchmarking resource for more advanced companies.

To advance this agenda, the UN Global Compact—together with GCNSA, the Global Compact’s Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC), and supporting partners—hosted a B20 side event that convened business leaders, policymakers, financiers, and SME representatives. As the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community, the B20 provided a strategic platform to explore how improved sustainability readiness can unlock trade, investment, and financing opportunities for SMEs worldwide.

SMEs make up the bulk of the global private sector and play a vital role in economic growth, yet many still lack the capabilities and knowledge required to strengthen their sustainability performance. Their meaningful participation in value chains helps larger enterprises diversify suppliers, expand trade opportunities, and mitigate risk. The SME Readiness Tool aims to close this gap by offering practical support across sustainability capacity-building, reporting, and market and finance preparedness.

Dr. Achieng Ojwang, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network South Africa, stated at the event that the critical nature of SMEs for African business necessitated the launch of the readiness tool on the continent.