Helping Small-Scale Producers and Businesses Access Sustainability Markets

A growing suite of new regulations is making sustainable production practices a prerequisite for accessing international markets, rather than a voluntary endeavour to gain competitive advantage. It is now more important than ever that small-scale producers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in low- and middle-income countries are able to comply with voluntary and mandatory market access requirements. Otherwise, those already living on the margins risk being further excluded from global trade networks. 

IISD’s Sustainability Markets Hub provides training and resources to help producers and SMEs meet the criteria required to access international sustainability markets, while also connecting them with key international buyers to ensure their efforts are not in vain. Our work on capacity and connection building includes two main aspects:

• business roundtables; and
• training and e-learning.

Business roundtables

We host roundtables that bring together policy officials, producers, exporters, and buyers interested in supporting sustainable production practices and connecting with small-scale producers, businesses, and cooperatives who are export ready but need support with market access through direct trade linkages.

Examples of previous roundtables we have convened include

• an event to connect organic cocoa producers and exporters in Madagascar with Canadian buyers; and
• an event to strengthen the position of women coffee producers in Rwanda in the global marketplace.

We are also supporting the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) with their inaugural Organic and Nature Expo in November 2026, which aims to connect farmers, businesses, policy-makers, and investors across Africa’s organic sector.

Training and e-learning

We provide tailored training and e-learning sessions for producers, SMEs, and policy-makers to enhance their understanding of what is required to comply with voluntary sustainability standards and emerging regulatory developments in key export markets.