Harare, Zimbabwe — For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), sustainability and ESG reporting can sound like something designed for large corporations with big teams and even bigger budgets. A new program from GRI Africa and ESG Network Zimbabwe aims to change that.
The two organizations are launching a donor-funded training program designed to help SMEs strengthen the way they account for, manage and communicate their environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. The 2nd Cohort of this program starts on Tuesday 25th August 2026.
The program recognizes a simple reality: SMEs are an important part of Zimbabwe’s economy, but many may not have the resources or technical expertise needed to navigate the growing expectations around sustainability reporting.
Through practical training, participating businesses will gain a better understanding of what sustainability reporting means, why it matters and, most importantly, how they can apply it to their own operations.
Rather than treating reporting as a box-ticking exercise, the program will encourage SMEs to see sustainability information as a useful business tool. Good reporting can help businesses understand their risks, identify opportunities, build trust with stakeholders and make better-informed decisions.
For SMEs looking to grow, access new markets or work with larger companies, being able to demonstrate responsible business practices is also becoming increasingly important. Customers, investors, business partners and development organizations are paying closer attention to how companies operate and the impact they have on people and the environment.
GRI Africa and ESG Network Zimbabwe believe SMEs should not be left behind in this shift.
The training will therefore focus on building practical capacity and making sustainability reporting more accessible to smaller businesses. Participants will be supported to better understand their impacts and communicate their progress in a meaningful and credible way.
The initiative also comes at an important time for Zimbabwe’s private sector. As businesses navigate economic pressures while looking for ways to remain competitive and resilient, integrating sustainability into everyday business decisions can provide a foundation for long-term growth.
At its heart, the program is about more than producing reports. It is about helping SMEs become more transparent, accountable and resilient businesses.
By giving business owners and their teams the knowledge and tools they need, GRI Africa and ESG Network Zimbabwe hope to help create a private sector where sustainability is not viewed as a requirement reserved for big companies, but as something every business can understand, embrace and benefit from.
The program is ultimately an investment in Zimbabwean businesses — helping SMEs tell their stories more effectively, build stronger relationships with stakeholders and grow in a way that creates lasting value for both their businesses and the communities they serve.
