ILO SCORE Training Program - SME Productivity & Working Conditions
The Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme combines classroom training with in-factory consulting to improve productivity and working conditions in SMEs. Since 2009, SCORE has trained 4,800+ SMEs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, benefiting 888,000+ workers. Modules cover Workplace Cooperation, Quality Improvement, Resource Efficiency, OSH, Lean Manufacturing, and Gender Equality. Results include: 50% productivity improvements, 64% reduction in defective products, 48% reduction in waste, 29% reduction in work-related accidents, 22% reduction in absenteeism, 91% enterprise satisfaction rate. Partnerships with Inditex, Adidas, and Ethical Trading Initiative integrate SCORE into supplier development.
Theme Areas
Behavior Goal
Transform SME management practices through cooperative worker-management relations; demonstrate that productivity and decent work are mutually reinforcing
Target Audiences
Channels
Implementers & Partners
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
Donors & Sponsors
- Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
- Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
Key Takeaways
- 1Enterprise Improvement Teams (EIT) sustain changes beyond training period
- 2Productivity gains (50%) make business case for decent work investments
- 3Resource efficiency module addresses environmental sustainability (SDGs 7, 12, 13)
- 4Brand partnerships (Adidas, Inditex) integrate into supply chain requirements
- 591% satisfaction rate demonstrates value perceived by enterprise owners