Building stronger green business ecosystems through peer learning: Highlights from the first BSO Experience Exchange Workshop

On 8 June 2026, SPARK, through the Green Forward programme, joined the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), the GreenChem Programme (implemented by Yale University and UNIDO), and Business Support Organizations (BSOs) from across different regions for the first BSO Experience Exchange Workshop. The online event brought together 38 participants from multiple countries and programmes to share practical experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to supporting businesses in their transition towards more sustainable and circular practices, while fostering new partnerships and collaboration across ecosystems and regions.

Organised through a collaboration between the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), the EU-funded Green Forward programme implemented by SPARK, and the GEF-funded GreenChem project implemented by Yale University and UNIDO, the workshop highlighted the critical role that Business Support Organizations (BSOs) play in helping SMEs adopt circular economy principles and more sustainable business practices. Participants explored two key themes: delivering tailored circular economy services to businesses and maintaining effective SME engagement throughout their sustainability journey.

The workshop marked the launch of a new series of peer-learning exchanges designed to strengthen collaboration between Business Support Organisations and lay the groundwork for a future Global BSO Network. The initiative aims to create lasting connections among ecosystem actors, ensuring that knowledge, tools, and best practices continue to be shared long after individual projects end.

The session featured insights from experienced BSOs from Serbia, Peru, Palestine, and Morocco, who shared practical approaches to supporting businesses through advisory services, business diagnostics, mentoring, certification pathways, and value chain development initiatives.

Representing the Green Forward programme, the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ) from Palestine and MIRRIAH from Morocco shared valuable lessons learned from their work with SMEs. ARIJ emphasized the importance of integrating business development, sustainability, and resilience to generate long-term impact, highlighting that continuous mentoring and sustained partnerships are often more effective than one-off interventions. The organization also underscored the important role that women and youth play as drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development. From Morocco, MIRRIAH underscored the importance of systematic planning, strong governance structures, and continuous engagement with SMEs. Their experience demonstrated how regular feedback from businesses can drive continuous improvement while ensuring circular economy solutions are embedded across the value chain.

Participants also benefited from perspectives shared by Green Chem partners. The Environmental Entrepreneurship Group (GEA) from Peru emphasised that trust is the most valuable asset a BSO can build with businesses and that SMEs should be viewed as long-term partners rather than clients. Meanwhile, GreenUp Accelerator from Serbia highlighted the need to translate sustainability concepts into clear business value by linking green practices to cost savings, compliance, market access, and competitiveness.

Throughout the discussion, a common message emerged: successful green transitions require long-term support systems, trusted relationships, and strong local institutions capable of guiding businesses over time. Peer learning between BSOs was identified as a powerful mechanism for accelerating knowledge exchange, strengthening institutional capacities, and scaling impact across countries and sectors.

Throughout the discussion, a common message emerged: successful green transitions require long-term support systems, trusted relationships, and strong local institutions capable of guiding businesses over time. Peer learning between BSOs was identified as a powerful mechanism for accelerating knowledge exchange, strengthening institutional capacities, and scaling impact across countries and sectors.

For SPARK and the Green Forward programme, the workshop reaffirmed the value of ecosystem-building approaches that strengthen local support organisations and create multiplier effects across entrepreneurship ecosystems. By empowering BSOs with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need, Green Forward continues to contribute to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies across the Southern Mediterranean.

The workshop concluded with strong interest from participants in continuing structured exchanges and contributing to the development of a Global BSO Network that will connect ecosystem actors, facilitate collaboration, and support the growth of green and circular businesses worldwide.

Green Forward is a European Union-funded initiative implemented by a consortium of partners working across three complementary levels: 

• Expertise France (at the macro level): leads the development of enabling green policies, legislation, and standards in close collaboration with national authorities and regional stakeholders. 
• SPARK (at the Meso level): focuses on strengthening the capacity of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to act as effective ecosystem enablers. 
• UNIDO (at the micro level): supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through targeted technical assistance, promoting the adoption of circular economy practices and improving access to green finance.