INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS INTO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES' ACTIVITIES: BARRIERS AND MECHANISMS FOR OVERCOMING THEM

Abstract

Introduction. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals depends significantly on the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, which forms the backbone of employment and value creation in most economies worldwide. Despite their considerable economic weight, SMEs remain on the periphery of global SDG strategies, as most small business owners perceive the Sustainable Development Goals as too abstract and unattainable for their own enterprises, while issues of survival and competitiveness consistently take precedence over sustainability considerations. This situation creates a structural paradox whereby the sector with the most direct impact on local communities simultaneously remains insufficiently integrated into the process of achieving global goals aimed precisely at improving socio-economic conditions. In this context, the study of systemic barriers constraining the integration of sustainable development principles into SME activities and the mechanisms for overcoming them becomes particularly relevant as a key prerequisite for transforming this sector into a full-fledged agent of inclusive development.

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to identify and analyse the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, to determine the systemic barriers constraining their integration, and to develop mechanisms for their neutralisation to enable the full participation of enterprises in implementing sustainable development principles.

Materials and Methods. The research materials include scientific works by domestic and foreign scholars devoted to the issue of SME participation in SDG implementation; analytical reports of international organisations, including the OECD, UNIDO, IFC, and UN Global Compact; and empirical data from studies conducted across various regions of the world. The study employs methods of systematisation and comparative analysis to generalise scientific approaches to SDG integration into SME activities; a bibliometric approach to determine the priority of individual goals; structural and functional analysis to classify barriers; and generalisation of international experience to substantiate the three-level support model.

Results. The article identifies priority Sustainable Development Goals in which small and medium-sized enterprises hold the greatest potential and economic interest. Four groups of systemic barriers constraining effective SME participation in sustainable development are analysed: financial, informational and competence-related, regulatory, and structural. It is demonstrated that these barriers are mutually reinforcing in nature and cannot be overcome through isolated measures. A three-level support model encompassing state, enterprise, and international dimensions is proposed, which may serve as an architectural foundation for the systemic integration of SMEs into the implementation of sustainable development principles.

Prospects. Further research should focus on the quantitative assessment of SME contributions to specific Sustainable Development Goals across different regions and economic sectors. Particular attention should be given to analysing the effectiveness of existing state support programmes through the lens of inclusiveness and accessibility for various categories of entrepreneurs, as well as to developing adapted green financing mechanisms that account for the specifics of transitional and post-conflict economies. A promising direction is also the study of three-level support model implementation practices in specific country contexts and the development of indicators for monitoring SME progress in implementing sustainable development principles.