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Small Business Development in Local Communities Program

Program News: August 2011

Program funding – Citi Foundation

Program management – Fund for Sustainable Development

Program term – 2011-2012

The Program will equip low income and unemployed citizens in living in towns and settlements with theoretical and practical skills on how to start, maintain or expand their small businesses. The Program will include training in such areas as increasing employment opportunities, business plan development and the use of sustainable business principles. Nearly 600 community members in Leningradskaya, Ryazan and Moscow regions will be involved in Program implementation. Following the training, a business plan contest will be held, in which 10 business plans/projects will be selected and awarded grants for either starting a new business or expanding an existing one. Trainings and model projects will be based on community small business development priorities and shall become catalysts of changing the local economic and environmental situation.

Key objectives and anticipated results:

1. Small business development needs/capacity assessment in Leningradskaya, Ryazan and Moscow regions with nearly 600 community members involved in meetings and opinion surveys.
2. Three small business development trainings for entrepreneurs (one in each model community) will be developed and offered to nearly 600 local residents, of whom at least 300 will successfully complete training and develop their own small business plans/projects. The authors of one hundred best business plans selected on a competitive basis will be asked to present grant applications for receiving funding under the Program.
3. Small business development projects will be selected on a competitive basis. At least 10 winners will be awarded grants for fulfilling their business plans and will implement their projects.
4. Program impact evaluation: a survey will be conducted among 300 training attendees. Nearly 190 out of 300 will demonstrate successful results in developing their own businesses.
5. Program results will be summarized at a round table with the participation of local and federal government officials, successful entrepreneurs and journalists.

The Program will be carried out by FSD in collaboration with its regional partners: the NGOs Center for Ecological Education and Information (Yekaterinburg) and Low Impact Technologies Center (Nizhny Novgorod) and FSD regional centers that are well aware of regional priorities and have broad networks of partner organizations.

The successful implementation of the Program will help open new business opportunities before people living in dozens of communities and give them a chance to learn to adapt to new market conditions and to apply innovative approaches to promoting local sustainable development. One of the key results of this effort will be the enhancement of business and civic activity of citizens living in small towns and settlements and the engagement of all possible resources (material, financial and intellectual) for community development.  Our joint programs with Citi Company are aimed at gaining precisely these objectives.

The Citi Foundation supports projects aimed at improving conditions of life, developing businesses and facilitating prosperity for communities throughout the world. Special attention is focused on programs in  the areas of 1) microfinance and microenterprise that ensure financial independence; 2) small and growing businesses that promote economic development and create new jobs; 3) education and professional training for youth; 4) financial education that helps making responsible financial decisions; 5) environmental protection with emphasis on support to sustainable businesses that create new jobs and promote regional economic growth and demonstrate environmental friendliness. More detailed information may be found at www.citigroupfoundation.org.