The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched an online platform aimed at connecting Nigerian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in nature-positive businesses with global markets.

The platform, known as the Nature Positive Online Directory, was developed under the Support to Potential and Established Nature-Positive MSMEs (SPENM) project, implemented by the International Trade Facilitators Association (ITFA).

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, ITFA Trade Ambassador, Prince Collins Ezeiruka, said the SPENM project had, within one year, supported 600 Nigerian enterprises to transition from donor dependence to sustainable, market-ready businesses.

He said the new directory would initially provide global visibility for 400 Nigerian MSMEs as part of a pilot phase, with plans to expand as more businesses meet the required standards.

According to Ezeiruka, the platform is not an e-commerce site but an online information hub designed to showcase verified Nigerian businesses that produce environmentally sustainable products and operate in line with internationally recognised fair trade principles.

He said the initiative would increase the visibility and credibility of participating businesses while providing continuous mentoring, access to market information, funding opportunities and international buyers.

“There is growing global demand for products that are environmentally responsible and ethically produced. The directory is designed to showcase Nigerian businesses that meet these standards and connect them with opportunities beyond the country’s borders,” he said.

Ezeiruka explained that the platform would also serve as a repository of business information, enabling development partners, investors and government agencies to identify and support enterprises within specific value chains.

He noted that although Nigeria has more than 40 million registered businesses, the project would begin with 400 enterprises to ensure effective implementation before scaling up.

He added that the directory was created to address the sustainability challenge often faced by development projects, stressing that many businesses fail not because of inadequate funding but because they lack the structure and market access needed for long-term growth.

According to him, the platform will help make participating businesses more visible, investable and better positioned to compete in local and international markets.

The SPENM project is funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme and implemented by UNDP to promote environmentally sustainable enterprises and strengthen inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), Mrs. Ibironke Olubanise, said  GEF is the world’s largest funder of environmental projects, with a strong focus on developing countries as it currently support 278 environmental and nature-positive projects in more than 250 communities across Nigeria.

She explained that the GEF operates through three funding windows—full-size projects, medium-size projects and the Small Grants Programme. While the full-size and medium-size projects are implemented in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Environment, she said the Small Grants Programme is coordinated globally by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and overseen locally by a National Steering Committee.

Olubanise said the programme had observed that many community projects struggled to survive after grant funding ended due to limited capacity for income generation and sustainability planning.

She noted that the programme has therefore shifted its focus towards helping community-based organisations transform their projects into sustainable social enterprises capable of generating revenue and creating long-term impact.

She recalled that the programme had previously supported a community project to become export-ready, enabling producers to obtain certification to export their products outside Nigeria.

She added that the model had attracted interest from other African countries, describing Nigeria’s approach as one of the most advanced on the continent.

The GEF-SGP National Coordinator also stressed the need for Africa to develop value chains that enable communities to process and market their natural resources locally instead of exporting raw materials.

She urged civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, community groups, farmers and social enterprises to register on the newly launched digital platform, saying it would improve their visibility and provide direct access to funding opportunities, partnerships and market information.

According to her, the platform is designed to serve as a central repository of information on nature-positive enterprises and organisations in Nigeria, making it easier for investors, development partners and other stakeholders to identify and support them.