Global supply chains are undergoing a seismic shift as new regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) set stricter requirements for businesses. Businesses in emerging economies, many of which are MSMEs, remain unprepared for these changes, lacking both the technical expertise and structural capacity to meet compliance standards. This lack of readiness puts entire industries at risk of losing access to international markets, threatening not only individual businesses but also broader economic stability, job creation, and trade participation across the Global South.

BetterESG was developed to address this urgent need. Through custom-built due diligence tools, sector-specific risk assessments, and hands-on support, we help businesses strengthen their sustainability practices and future-proof themselves against regulatory and market shifts. Our goal is to ensure that these businesses, particularly in emerging economies, can adapt to these regulatory shifts before they face exclusion from supply chains.

The first iteration of BetterESG is being implemented in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) as part of the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) programme. This phase focuses on enhancing ESG resilience within key commodity value chains, particularly coffee, cocoa, and cashew, in Ethiopia and Ghana. We will also be working across other value chains in countries like Senegal and Uganda.

How We’re Driving ESG Readiness

• Developing ESG reporting and risk assessment tools - We develop ESG reporting and risk assessment tools tailored for MSMEs, enabling them to identify regulatory gaps, environmental and human rights risks, and governance shortcomings in their supply chains. Our approach ensures that businesses understand where they fall short of international standards and what needs to change

• Identifying risks and creating practical risk mitigation strategies - Once priority risks are identified, we work with businesses to ‘move the needle’, and work towards mitigating these risks. Our interventions are designed to be practical, focusing on what MSMEs can realistically implement within their existing structures.

• Capacity building support and bespoke templates - To simplify ESG implementation, we offer coaching, digital resources, and ready-to-use templates that businesses can adapt for their own ESG policies, supplier guidelines, and reporting structures. This ensures that MSMEs, regardless of their size or capacity, can take practical steps toward compliance.

ESG is no longer optional, and businesses that don’t prepare risk exclusion from global markets. BetterESG ensures that smallholder-driven value chains are not left behind, enabling businesses to build resilience, access financing, and compete in sustainable trade networks.