Evaluation of the USAID-Kosovo SME and Agriculture - Economic ...

Development Associates, Inc.institutional assistance for start-up costs, after they win competitive bids for provision oftechnical assistance to the target clusters.The CBD will also provide co-financing for the services in order to facilitate the development ofa local market for professional business services. The CBD should maintain a minimum of staffand will also provide short-term experts and volunteers on an as-needed basis. Consultingservices will be provided to the enterprises directly by the SMC as a last resort only.The CBD will consider the target clusters as its “core” clients, although services would extend toindividual enterprises within the cluster. In addition, in order to disseminate “best practices”, toensure wide reach ad support for new economic initiatives and influence economic decisionmaking, the CBD will also maintain close relations with:Economic think tanks, policy groups, economic and governmental institutions, similarinitiatives among other donors;Local educational institutions such as the University of Pristina, American University inKosovo, etc.;Business associations, Chambers of Commerce, Regional Development Agencies, etc.;and theLocal consulting community.In all its activities the CBD will be expected also to borrow from the experience of similarUSAID programs in neighboring countries and provide a link for Kosovo-wide stakeholders tosuch initiatives, best practices and lessons learned. The CBD may also use successful examplesand referenced consultancies from other USAID funded regional initiatives, particularly thoseengaged in competitiveness and business development.Below is a simple illustration of the services that the CBD could provide to the target clusters:1. Top level consulting expertise, relevant to the cluster objectives and appropriate forindividual enterprises within the cluster;2. Co-financing of TA provided by local consultants, upon request and approval by theSenior CDO. Initially such assistance will be guided by the SMC from the CBD;3. Short-term experts and volunteers;4. Links to similar programs regionally and dissemination of “best practices” both withinthe cluster and the wider economic community in Kosovo and the region; and5. Other business development services that are considered important and in-line withUSAID’s Strategic Objectives.Evaluation of the USAID/Kosovo SME 22 May 2004and Agriculture/Agribusiness ProgramsVolume I