USAID Serbia and Montenegro
Compete Project (Serbia): Helping to bring Serbian companies back into world market – leading directly to $20.5m in 2008 exports. Helping to introduce International Industry standards that allow companies to compete in the global marketplace. Attracted major film productions and millions in investments. | Support to companies (Serbia) in vulnerable areas increased their competitiveness. 2008 sales at trade/shows fairs for assisted companies up 42%. | Economic systems (Serbia): Helped introduce: VAT; private pensions; investment funds; sound insurance industry, bankruptcy and enforcement and modern payment systems. | Opportunity Bank (Serbia) loans created 5,000+ new jobs and ensured 40,000+ existing jobs were kept. Only lender for vulnerable people who have little access to credit. | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Serbia): Civil Society activities have brought together 14 major companies and an array of NGOs to establish culture of CSR. | Preparedness Planning (Serbia): USAID works with all levels of government to improve disaster risk reduction, trained 675 responders from 50 Municipalities on disaster management. | Civil Society Grants (Serbia): USAID assisted 160 Civil Society organizations with $5.2 million in 2.5yrs to better represent the needs of ordinary people & become more influential partners with businesses and government in the democratic process. | Media (Serbia): USAID media assistance has contributed to more independent, professional and financially viable media outlets and media associations. The regulatory environment now better supports the development of e-media; 2,000+ media professionals trained. | Court Reform (Serbia): U.S. assistance helped increase independence and the professional skills of judges, magistrates and prosecutors; provided legal assistance to victims of war crimes and human rights abuses. | Local governments (Serbia): Through work with a wide geographic spread of municipalities, local governments are now more responsive: 30+ Citizen Assistance Centers, E-government in 80+ Municipalities. | Youth (Serbia): Junior Achievement in 90 schools in 2009. USAID supports efforts of the Ministry of Youth/Sports to better prepare youth for post-graduation work opportunities. | Agribusiness (Serbia): Serbian companies assisted made $16.7m in registered sales in 2008. Recent trade shows expected to bring over $17m in contracts. | Local Economic growth (Serbia): Municipalities in USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity attracted over 800m Euro in investments and created over 11,000 jobs in two years by becoming more business friendly; 270 new businesses opened; 26 Local Economic Development offices set up to actively attract investments. | Commercial Courts (Serbia) have become more efficient and transparent with Case Management Systems in all 16 courts and the High Commercial Court. Case backlogs cut drastically. |
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    Community Revitalization through Democratic Action – Economy (CRDA-E)

    Initiates activities that promote local economic growth and job creation with the aim of bringing immediate improvements in people’s living conditions. Revitalizes local democracy through strong citizen participation

    Project components include:

    • Identifying and addressing critical local constraints to economic growth
    • Forming partnerships with local governments, private businesses and NGOs to expand and increase access to economic and social infrastructure
    • Improving private sector growth to increase competitiveness and create new jobs
    • Strengthening civil society by motivating citizens to work together to achieve community goals

    Results to date include:

    • Citizens, businesses, and local government officials throughout Serbia have learned to analyze their economic situation, compare their capacities to market demands, improve the quality of products, and define a strategy and set of programs to improve their economy
    • Approximately 25,000 full time equivalent jobs created
    • Over 4 million beneficiaries (60 percent of population)*
    • An estimated $80+ million dollars in additional income generated and over $30 million in increased agricultural sales *
    • Demonstrated commitment of the local population through local counterpart contributions in excess of 50% of project costs

    * Figures through 2005

    To achieve the project’s goals, USAID and its partners work with local governments, community development committees, NGOs, the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Economic Development Centers, Regional Chambers of Commerce and the University of Novi Sad

    This CRDA program started in 2001. A shifting emphasis to the development of local economic growth is reflected in ‘Economy’ being added to the program’s name. CRDA-E is being implemented through cooperative agreements with five American non-governmental organizations who work in cooperation with other local and international organizations that provide specialized services: