Over 400 companies have used the COLEAD Sustainability Self-Assessment System

The Sustainability Self-Assessment System (SAS) is a tool designed to facilitate, monitor and evidence the adoption of good practice that will enable producers and MSMEs become more sustainable, competitive and resilient.

The SAS is one of the three pillars of the COLEAD sustainability approach, along with the Sustainability Charter and training system.

The SAS has four key objectives:

1. To provide a framework for continuous improvement in the application of sustainability good practice, with a particular focus on practices where there is a strong business case for adoption by growers
2. To facilitate market access by aligning practices with industry sustainability standards (certification schemes and buyers’ demands)
3. Through access to critical data, to act as a business management tool to help companies become more competitive and resilient, with better business planning
4. To create a framework for COLEAD to plan, deliver and monitor its individual support projects.

Following two well-attended training sessions on the SAS in December 2022, an ongoing training programme includes completion of a self-study course, peer exchanges and mentoring/coaching sessions.

So far (since 2018), more than 400 COLEAD partner beneficiary companies have used the SAS.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus programme, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.