The Responsible Entrepreneurs Achievement Programme (REAP) contributes to aligning economic, social and environmental aspects of business in selected target countries. The Programme is based on SME & Cluster-directed trainings and business advisory services as well as policy-related initiatives and strategic capacity building efforts.

Against the background of our philosophy ‘’Enhancing Responsible Competitiveness through 1-to-1 Assistance,’’ the Programme is based on a UNIDO cooperation with a variety of qualified local CSR consultants (certified engineers) who are licensed by UNIDO. Licensing requires successful attendance of a UNIDO led one-week REAP training course.

At the core of the Programme is the REAP software, a CSR reporting and management tool for SMEs. The software allows for a CSR-related risk assessment, internally as well as along supply chains, and supports strategic performance improvements.

The Programme demonstrates the potential benefits of aligning private business plans and local/national development goals through business partnerships, and paves the way for similar development-oriented joint ventures beyond the impulse of the proposed technical assistance.

Eventually, the REAP lays a stable and solid ground for a broad implementation of responsible business practice, responsible supply chain management, and a national and local business-related policy framework, geared towards sustainable industrial development and the development of sustainable livelihoods in the target countries.

Based on the UNIDO business partnership approach, the Programme specifically aims at three principle objectives:

• - Creating a worldwide system of trained and licensed REAP Consultants for 1-to-1 support of SMEs
• - Helping SMEs to practice responsible entrepreneurship, by translating CSR principles into a commercially viable management approach
• - Combining best practices on environmental, social, and financial management, based on engineering principles
• - Creating continuous improvement management processes as the base for successful CSR implementation
• - Focussing on implementation of CSR principles rather then on reporting.