Donors: German Government through Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the municipalities of Bujanovac, Gadzin Han, Pirot and Presevo

Budget: II phase - 131.097,50 EUR

Duration: July 2008 - December 2008

Region: Bujanovac, Gadzin Han, Pirot and Presevo

Description: In July 2008 HELP – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. started the realization of the 2nd phase of the programme “Support to local sustainable development in Serbia through business incubation – poverty reduction”. The programme is financed by the German Government through the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the municipalities covered by the programme: Bujanovac, Gadzin Han, Pirot and Presevo. The programme will be implemented in cooperation with the two local non-governmental organizations EDEAS - Economic Development Association from Bujanovac and ENECA – Economic Expert Community Association from Nis. The II phase of the programme will include in total 38 entrepreneurs from the targeted municipalities: Bujanovac (8), Gadzin Han (14), Pirot (8) and Presevo (8).

The activities supported within the programme in the targeted municipalities will be those envisaged by the municipal Strategies of local sustainable development as priorities. Those activities should contribute to the sustainable development in the whole and should not in any way influence the environment. Special emphasis will be given to the sound business ideas aimed at starting or improving the business activities submitted by the young entrepreneurs and women. Moreover, all innovative ideas coming from different sectors will also be considered with particular attention.

Criteria for the selection of the potential clients are economic viability, social vulnerability, the total value of the investment and the professional ability of the candidate.

All projects fulfilling the above mentioned criteria and submitted by the young people, women, unemployed and other vulnerable population will have particular support. Whenever possible and appropriate joint projects will be encouraged.

The approved assistance will be donated exclusively as in kind grants i.e. material / equipment and no cash payments will be approved to the clients. Average value of in kind grant per individual project amounts to 2.000,00 EUR in dinar counter value.

The clients obligations are:
• to repay 20% of the total value of donated equipment / material
• to donate 15 hours of community service for the local community
• to register his/her business activity prior to equipment / material distribution, or to employ new workers in cases of already registered activity
• to attend the trainings organized by HELP.

Current activities:

In the second phase of the project implemented by HELP through local NGO's EDEAS and ENECA, in the municipalities of Bujanovac, Gadzin Han, Pirot and Presevo, in total 38 clients have been supported. The purchase of the equipment/material for the supported clients is coming to an end parallel with the delivery. Also, the business and vocational tailor made trainings for clients in Gadzin Han and Pirot were held by the NGO TEAM Leskovac, and Agriculture institute from Vranje, while the provider in Bujanovac and Presevo was the Regional agency for SME VEEDA from Vranje, and DEAS and Millennium for vocational trainings.