The UNDP and MAS are articulating a set of basic Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics for common adoption by MSMEs worldwide, and working with GLEIF to develop technological capabilities for MSMEs to generate a unique Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), generate digital credentials against these common metrics, and support access by MSMEs’ business and financing partners to these credentials via the global open source LEI index. This project, titled Savannah, aims to uplift MSMEs’ ability to access the proliferation of green finance and supply chain opportunities in today’s global economy.
Can Savannah unlock transformative impacts for local MSME communities, especially those in emerging markets? How can we maximise the value of these digital ESG ‘passports’ to the MSMEs? Can projects like Savannah fundamentally change the way larger entities, such as banks and supply chain conglomerates, engage with MSMEs in their business dealings? And how can governments work with larger industry players to strengthen the incentives, financial or otherwise, to drive greater adoption of these digital public goods? We discuss these and more.
