A Three Year Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries

The report analyzes the social, environmental, and business performance of 1,337 SMMEs in developing countries, with a focus on the 2011 applicant cohort. It identifies a strong trend toward the adoption of new technologies and a shift in organizational identity from strictly non-profit to hybrid or for-profit models. Key barriers include a lack of financial resources, limited access to technical research partners, and a deficiency in local-level environmental monitoring and enforcement. The study also highlights gender disparities, noting that women-led enterprises often face greater challenges in accessing business management skills and markets.

• Agriculture remains the dominant sector for SMMEs, while training is the second most common activity, highlighting the significant role these enterprises play in community skills-building.
• There is a shifting perception of organizational identity, with an increase in enterprises identifying as for-profit or hybrid models, particularly in Africa, where the proportion of strictly non-profit entities dropped significantly between 2010 and 2011.
• SMMEs struggle to set clear and measurable targets, particularly for environmental goals, where 75% of respondents provide targets that are either absent or vague.
• Access to technology and technical expertise is increasingly critical, with 80% or more of Cohorts 2 and 3 introducing new technologies or processes to their communities.
• Financial sustainability remains a primary barrier; over 90% of respondents report lacking financing or access to investors, aid, or lines of credit.
• While national environmental legislation is generally viewed as being in place, the absence of local-level monitoring and enforcement is a significant barrier, cited as absent or partially available by 45% of respondents.
• Women-led enterprises show higher awareness of gaps in their enabling environment, specifically regarding business regulations, government programs, business management skills, and market access.
• In South Africa, SMMEs show a higher level of involvement with research institutions and technical experts compared to the global cohort, though they still face significant funding shortages.
• SEED Winners typically exhibit stronger business approaches and higher performance on targets than the general applicant pool, with a higher percentage identifying as for-profit.

APA

Creech, H., Paas, L., & Voora, V. (2012). A Three Year Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investigation_tripple_bottom_line.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Heather, Leslie Paas, and Vivek Voora. A Three Year Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investigation_tripple_bottom_line.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Heather |last2=Paas |first2=Leslie |last3=Voora |first3=Vivek |title=A Three Year Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investigation_tripple_bottom_line.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2012three, author = {Creech, Heather and Paas, Leslie and Voora, Vivek}, title = {{A Three Year Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/investigation_tripple_bottom_line.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }