The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) aims to strengthen developing countries’ industrial small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in order to move from conventional technologies to climate technologies. The intended impact of the transformation of the industrial SME markets is to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The programme consists of the following elements:
1) introducing climate technologies and international suppliers to the local SMEs,
2) creating linkages to finance,
3) building the capacity and awareness of the local industrial SMEs.
The CTCN Technology SME clinics have a national scope and concentrate on strengthening national industrial SMEs. The targeted national industrial SMEs are manufacturing enterprises or industrial units with relevance to climate technologies. The definition of an industrial SME depends on the country context.
Potential approaches
1. Strengthening policy frameworks
Strengthening the policy frameworks that support the scaling up of specific climate technologies in a country is a key issue. Different benchmarks and standards can support the efforts to scale up climate technologies. Policies targeted to incentivise take up of climate technologies by SMEs can be used. Policies supporting the development of the industrial SME market in a country are also relevant.
2. Incubator programme
SME incubators can be used to assist in the development of SMEs by exposing them to right technologies, supporting them with business plan development, access to strategic partnerships, networking or financing or help them with engineering support services. Depending on the analysis made, an incubator with relevant background and skills can be identified and a concept note for funding the incubator programme can be developed.
3. Capacity building related to the operation of a specific technology
Depending on the findings, a concept note can be developed to organise a capacity building programme for a group of industrial SMEs for operating a technology that has been introduced by the internationally recognized service provider.
4. Development of a local service provider
If the issue in a specific country according to the findings lacks of a functional operational framework, funding can be sought for training and/or establishing local service providers. The service providers can support the SME cluster for example with legal matters, communications or storage facilities.
5. Funding scheme development with local financial institution
If access to finance is identified as a key issue in a target country, a concept note aiming for joint programme development with local financial institutions can be developed. Cooperation with local financial institutions can be continued and different financing options supporting the take up of the selected climate technologies identified.
6. Demonstration project of selected climate technology
If a lack of awareness is identified as a key issue, funding for a pilot project demonstrating the benefits of the selected climate technology can be sought for.
Ongoing programmes
- Kenya
SME clinic stakeholders workshop, January 2020:
Stakeholder validation workshop, January 2020:
Kenyan industrial SMEs cluster mapping report:
- Tanzania