Beginning in November 2025, the OECD convened a global dialogue to foster convergence in SME sustainability reporting. This initiative supports the wider objectives of the OECD Platform on Financing SMEs for Sustainability to build a supportive ecosystem which empowers SMEs to embrace sustainability as a pathway to growth, resilience, and innovation.
Sustainability reporting is essential for SMEs to access financing, integrate into supply chains, and gain a competitive edge. It helps SMEs improve their resource efficiency, build stronger customer relationships, and ensure better alignment with regulatory standards.
Despite these benefits, many SMEs—particularly in emerging economies—struggle with limited resources, expertise, and tools to measure and report sustainability performance.
Launched at the COP29 OECD Virtual Pavillion, the dialogue gathered a multitude of stakeholders, including public and private financial institutions, standard setters, policy makers, SME representatives and ESG and accountancy actors.
Building on a study on key sustainability reporting frameworks, the dialogue discussions centred on:
The dialogue underscored critical considerations for ensuring that sustainability reporting is practical, actionable, and beneficial for SMEs, including through:
The insights gathered during the dialogue informed the new OECD Guidance Note on fostering convergence in SME sustainability reporting. The Guidance Note provides a core set of indicators and metrics for jurisdictions in which SME sustainability reporting frameworks do not yet exist, as well as providing practical guidance for the development, implementation and uptake of such frameworks.
For further information, please contact Miriam Koreen or Marija Kuzmanovic. Keep an eye out on this page for updates on progress with the dialogue and proposed guidance for streamlining SME sustainability reporting.
Miriam Koreen
Marija Kuzmanovic