ILO’s Small and Medium Enterprises Unit

Founded in 1919 the ILO brings together government, employer and worker representatives of 187 member States, to set fundamental labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. The ILO’s Small and Medium Enterprises Unit seeks to unlock the potential of creating more and better jobs in small businesses - a sector where the bulk of employment is being created and provided. The unit provides policy advice and implements the 80% of ILOs technical cooperation portfolio in the field of Enterprise Development. This includes addressing informality and job quality in MSMEs, entrepreneurship training and promotion, support to women entrepreneurship, Value Chain analysis and development with a focus on jobs and decent work, support to productivity enhancements in SMEs and their eco-system as well as general business environment policy advice.