Donors: German Government through The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and the municipalities of Medvedja, Bujanovac, Presevo, Bosilegrad and Trgoviste.

Duration: April 2006 - December 2007

Budget: 647.692,80 eura

Region: the municipalities of Medvedja, Bujanovac, Presevo, Bosilegrad and Trgoviste.

Description: The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the sustainable economic development in Serbia, with a main focus on the empowerment of local economic structures in the targeted municipalities.

The specific objective of the project is the development of the private sector through business incubation.

The project will bring the following results:

- Increased employment through in kind grant support and the organization of training and vocational education for 250 small businesses.

- Empowerment of local economic structures (Regional Agencies for Local Development and Small and Medium Entreprises (SME), Local Bureaux of the National Employment Service) through capacity building activities.

Within the poverty reduction component of the project and in line with local sustainable development strategies, a total of 250 small businesses will be supported through:

- Provision of in kind grants in the form of equipment/material (an average value of 1200 euro) to start-up or expand already existing businesses.

- Delivery of business orientation trainings and vocational trainings tailored to the clients’ needs

- Continuous business counselling and guidance by HELP monitors and through the network of Help Start-up Centers (HSC) in the region.

The target groups within the project are socially and economically vulnerable persons who are denied access to micro credits or other financial means necessary for implementing their business ideas. The eligibility of clients for this kind of integrated business support is assessed according to pre-defined social and economic criteria. Indeed, only vulnerable persons having sound business ideas will be supported. Furthermore, within the project’s gender component, female applicants will be especially encouraged to propose business initiatives.

Within the project, HELP clients will have the following obligations:

- repayment of 15% of the total value of the donated equipment and/or material which will be further used in order to finance small-scale municipal projects, trainings and the establishment of a HELP start-up center which will, in a later stage, support HELPs clients and other potentially interested small entrepreneurs in the development of their activities

- 10 hours of communal works for the local community,

- registration of his/her business activity as required by the Serbian legislation, before receiving the donation, exept for business activities already registered which will be granted material/equipment upon the employment of an additional worker.

- attendance of training (s) specified by HELP before signing the grant contract.

Within the second component of the project which focuses on the empowerment of local economic structures, capacity building activities will be provided according to the individual needs of each municipality through the organization of tailor-made workshops (Basic Project Cycle Management, concept of the sustainable development, etc.)

Current activities:

After equipment delivery for 250 clients, HELP office in Bujanovac continued with regular monitoring of supported activities. HELP Grant officers are visiting clients in their working environment in order to follow the process of business activities development and their success. The clients have been provided with advisory assistance during the monitors visits, especially in regard to the business registration, as well as the available credit lines and other possible financial resources. The provision of professional consultations has been organized regularly for clients who are encountering obstacles and difficulties in their work.

The work for community was organized in cooperation with the targeted municipalities and identified in accordance with individual skills and business activity of each client. Within ten-hour work for community, the clients were engaged in small repairs in schools; work on the local roads and green areas. They also gave donations in the form of the products intended for children in schools and kindergartens.

October 2007, Preševo
HELP client

October 2007, Preševo
HELP client

October 2007, Trgovište Communal work- road drainage in the local community Radovnica

October 2007, Trgovište Communal work- road drainage in the local community Radovnica