Institute for International Relations

Name of client
the Ministry for Crafts and SMEs

Origin of funding
EU
CARDS programme

Dates (start/end)
11/2000 – 05/2001

Name of partners
Subcontracted for ECODES-Agriconsulting

Description of project - Overall objective:
Identification of an institution-building project which foresees the mobilisation of highly qualified technical expertise to support the Ministry of Crafts and SMEs in further defining, monitoring and fine-tuning the SME relevant regulatory framework, supporting non-governmental SME organisations in developing advisory, service delivery and lobbying capacities, and support to the small business advisory centres selected under the business support infrastructure component, in preparing implementing and monitoring of projects identified and approved under the loan support schemes.

Type of services provided

• Design of a loan support programme, including a micro-credit scheme, for several pilot areas
• Development of a project aiming at upgrading the existing business support infrastructure in those areas targeted by the loan/micro credit schemes
• Implementation of a comprehensive and systematic training scheme for entrepreneurs (marketing, management and foreign languages), staff of small business advisory centres, loan officers in banks with the aim of reinforcing capacities in the field of their respective competence