UP-CIFAL Philippines conducts SDG, inclusive business capacity building for training institute on small-scale industries

07 MAY 2019, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES−UP-CIFAL Philippines conducted a capacity building on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and inclusive business for 18 staff of the University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI).

UP-CIFAL Philippines Director Dr. Edna Co highlighted that businesses should engage low-income communities in the value chain so that everyone can contribute to SDGs, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption).

Data from the Department of Trade and Industry in 2016 show that 99.57% of businesses in the Philippines are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

After the lecture, UP ISSI staff suggested ways on how to apply SDGs and inclusive business in their work. These include raising awareness to MSMEs, connecting farmers to big companies in the value chain on UP ISSI’s pilot project on coffee farmers in the province of Benguet in northern Philippines, and promoting more sustainable production and consumption to small businesses and stakeholders in the university.

UP ISSI is a unit of the University of the Philippines established by law to assist in the promotion and development of small and medium enterprises in the country through training, research and extension.