Greening Small Business in Developing Countries
Michael Crow has consulted to international organizations
on strategies to improve the environmental performance of micro- and small
enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries.
These strategies and practical approaches recognize the economic and
social constraints facing many MSEs, and emphasize cost-effective cleaner
production approaches that can help improve business and environmental
performance.
For instance, Mr. Crow advised the
New Delhi
office of the United Nations International Development Organization (UNIDO) on
helping cloth-dyeing MSEs in the South Indian city of Tirupur continue to adapt to new, stringent water pollution control requirements.
Further, Mr. Crow's published research into the largely successful
adaptation by Tirupur firms has added to the growing evidence that environmental
protection is not inconsistent with economic development.
(See Publications for
more information.)
Michael Crow was also the lead author on the development of cutting-edge guidelines
for US Agency for International Development (USAID) projects supporting MSEs in
Africa.
These guidelines and associated fact sheets help USAID nonprofit partner
organizations comply with USAID regulations and improve long-term project
performance by detailing pragmatic methods for partner organizations to promote
the greening of MSEs. To complement
these guidelines, Mr. Crow spearheaded the development of a novel 3-4 day field
training course entitled, “Improving
Success Rates for Micro-, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through Cleaner
Production.” First delivered
in
Mozambique
in 2003, each iteration of the course has helped business development service (BDS)
providers integrate simple and profitable cleaner production strategies into the
support they provide to these businesses.
