Small Business Competitiveness Programme

What it is

The ILO's Small Business Competitiveness Programme (SBC) is a training initiative that provides low-cost tools and practical guidance to upgrade micro and small enterprises, particularly in the tourism and informal sectors. It targets self-employed operators, microenterprises and workers in marginalised or informal communities, aiming to improve service delivery, boost market competitiveness and create sustainable employment.

Built on the C-BED approach and using the same participatory, low-cost training materials, SBC was initially rolled out heavily across ASEAN countries to support regional tourism and grassroots enterprise development.

Key features

• Sector-specific guides: Step-by-step materials for common micro-sectors — a market vendor business, a homestay, a smallholding farm.
• Practical operations knowledge: Covers how to establish, manage and improve daily business operations.
• Regional focus: Rolled out heavily across ASEAN countries to support tourism and grassroots enterprise.
• Shared method: Built on the ILO's C-BED participatory, low-cost training approach.

SBC sessions often run in the same tourism venues participants are learning to compete in

Watch it in action