Competence - Economic Development and Microfinance
We have a systemic view of social and economic development. All economic activities are socially embedded. The various actors are linked through a complex web of relationships. Local and regional ressources need both be protected and used to foster sustainable socio-economic development. Sustainability and local value creation through more jobs and increased income considering the regional identity are at the core of our development approach.
Selected Project References:
Technical Assistance Team (TAT) for the coordination of the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme II
ACP Group of States, 2010 - 2014 Client: European Commission Beneficiary: all ACP Governments, Regional Organizations and Private Sector Representatives The programme aims at contributing to poverty alleviation through economic growth facilitated by the development of inclusive financial systems adapted to the needs of the poor in ACP Countries. The specific objective of this project is to launch and award the calls for proposals within a grants scheme, to provide technical expertize and advisory services in the Microfinance sector in ACP Countries. Regional Development, Microfinance, Grant Scheme, Technical Assistance, Advisory services
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) upgrading and Rating Initiative of the Development Bank of Austria in East Africa (OeEB)
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, 2008 - 2012 Client: Development Bank of Austria Beneficiary: 17 Microfinance Institutions The purpose of the project consists in building the capacities of 17 selected MFIs located in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, through technical assistance interventions based on an institutional diagnostics and capacity building plans. The most successful MFIs are offered a financial and a social rating, used as a means to attract additional funding from donors and investors. Regional Development, Microfinance, Technical Assistance, Capacity building
Regional Development Study Bjelasica and Komovi region
Montenegro, 2009 Client: ADA Austrian Development Agency Beneficiary: Bjelasica und Komovi municipalities and local tourism industry Facilitation of the third phase of regional development projects in one of the most underdeveloped regions of Montenegro, strategy for implementation of several smaller projects that were used as best practice cases and as learning examples for the local stakeholders. Keywords: Effectiveness Review, Regional Economic Development, Mountain and Winter Sport, Tourism
Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development of Southern Sudan and to the Southern Sudan Land Commission for drafting the Land Act Regulation
Sudan, 2009 Client: Delegation of the European Commission Beneficiary: Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development (MOLACD) Support and assist the senior staff of MOLACD, the Southern Sudan Land Commission and other related ministries in drafting the Land Act Regulation and assisting the Land Commission in finalising the land policy development process. Keywords: Regional Development, Land Regulations, Land-Use Planning
Technical Assistance for Gap Assessment for DIS under IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance)
Serbia, 2009 Client: Delegation of the European Commission Beneficiary: The Republic of Serbia The main objective of the IPA in Serbia is to help the country to face the challenges of European integration, to implement reforms needed to fulfil EU requirements and to make progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process. Keywords: Regional Development, European Integration, Reform, Stabilisation
Technical Assistance for the follow-up for the programme to support the competitiveness of Tunisia (PAC)
Tunisia, 2009 - 2011 Client: Delegation of the European Commission Beneficiary: Government of Tunisia Enhance the competitiveness of Tunisia to ease its integration into the European free trade zone and into the world economy as a whole, improvements to the public sector for better quality and dynamics, development of an electronic administration. Keywords: Regional Development, Public Administration, Competitiveness, Trade
Kopaonik Mountain Development Programme
Serbia, 2007 - 2010 Client: UNDP Beneficiary: Municipality of Raska Elaboration of tourism and regional development concept for the mountain area Lisina-Cajetina in the National Park of Kopaonik, land use planning and preparation of the plan in line with Serbian legislation, stakeholder involvement to ensure acceptance and legal adoption. Keywords: Regional Development, Tourism Development, Land Use Planning, Environment
Study on Regional Economic Development Strategy and on the feasibility of a Regional Economic Development Office (Guichet DER)
Mali, 2009 Client: EC Delegation (EDF) Beneficiary: ECD Mali Elaboration of a regional economic development strategy, in the framework of the implementation of national strategies, and proposition of a financing instrument adapted to the funding of regional economic development. Keywords: Regional Development, Public Finance
Formulation mission for the Decentralisation and Local Development Programme in Syria
Arab Republic of Syria, 2009 Client: ECD in Damascus (MEDA) Beneficiary: ECD Damascus Formulation
of a comprehensive project proposal aimed at supporting the Syrian
Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and the Syrian
Regional and Local Authorities to consolidate the decentralisation
process and to promote local development dynamics in response to the
social, economic, and cultural needs of the Syrian population. Keywords: Decentralisation, Local Development, Formulation Study
Support for implementing Cross Border Institution Building (CBIB) Phase II
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99, 2008 - 2010 Client: ECD DG Enlargement Brussels (CARDS) Strengthening the capacities of the relevant management structures to programme and implement IPA CBC programmes at borders, strengthen the capacity of stakeholders within the eligible areas to prepare and implement joint cross border cooperation projects within the framework of IPA CBC Programmes, enhancing prosperity and good neighbourly relations. Website: www.cbib-eu.org Keywords: Cross-Border-Corporation (CBC), IPA, Programme Management, Project Preparation, Awareness Raising, Training, Grant Scheme Management
Elaboration of an institutional twinning project fiche and/or
technical assistance project fiche to the Directorate for Public
Companies and Privatisation (DEPP)
Morocco, 2008 – 2009 Client: Delegation of the European Commission (EDF) Beneficiary: Department for Public Enterprises and Privatisation Strengthening
of the cooperation between Morocco and the EU under Accord
d´Association through development and implementation of public private
partnerships and technical assistance, institutional twinning between
the Moroccan Department for Public Enterprises and Privatisation and a
similar structure in an EU member state. Keywords: Public Private Partnerships, Twinning, Project Preparation
Bakhmaro Recreational Area: Development of Mountain Resort Preliminary Masterplan
Georgia, 2008 Client: Department of Tourism and Research / Smart Consulting The
mountain valley of Bakhmaro in Western Georgia is a popular climatic
spa resort, but poor quality huts were constructed illegally and
forests were destroyed due to a lack of planning. ATC drafted a plan
for sustainable socio-economic development involving public private
partnerships. Keywords: Master
Plan, Tourism, Marketing, Cultural Heritage, Natural Heritage, Land
Ownership, Land Use Plan, Socio-economic Development, Public Private
Partnerships, Infrastructure, Spa Resort, Real Estate, Winter Sport,
Skiing
Support in drafting the strategy for development of social tourism in Croatia
Croatia, 2008 Client: Delegation of the European Commission (CARDS) Beneficiary: Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Improvement
of Croatia’s position on the international tourism market focusing on
sustainability, quality and diversification to move from mass to
quality tourism and foster niche markets, improvements to the state's
administrative capacity regarding tourism policies and measures for
economic and social cohesion. Keywords: Tourism, Strategy, Marketing, Project Development
Public Private Partnership Programme
Republic of Montenegro, 2007 – 2008 Client: European Agency for Reconstruction (CARDS) Beneficiary: Ministry of Tourism and Environment Protection Enhancement
of the investment climate, acceleration of economic growth, balanced
regional development and generation of new employment opportunities
in Montenegro. Development of secondary legislaton, regulatory and
institutional frameworks, design and support of PPPs and implementation
of pilot PPP projects. Keywords:
Public Private Partnership (PPP), Tourism, Socio-economic Development,
Legislation, Project Preparation, Feasibility Study
Technical assistance for project preparation and implementation of the Phare CBC programme Bulgaria - Romania
Bulgaria, 2006 – 2007 Client: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (PHARE) Preparation
for the effective implementation of cross border cooperation (CBC)
programmes, assistance to the preparation of programme documents,
capacity building in the administrative structures and support to
prospective project promoters. Keywords: Programme Management, Structural Funds, Cross Border Cooperation (CBC), Project Preparation, ERDF, Awareness Raising
Joint Nature Park development, Goricko Area, Pomurje Region
Slovenia, 2002 – 2004 Client: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (PHARE) Establishment
of a nature park in the Goricko region of Slovenia, including a
thorough habitat mapping. Development and implementation of a concept
to foster sustainable economic development. Private Public Partnerships
contributed to the development of a brand, to realise touristic
infrastructure and to promote investment. Keywords:
Nature Park Management, Natural Heritage, Environment, Socio-economic
Development, Tourism, SME Development, Procurement, Investment, Private
Public Partnerships, Marketing
Technical assistance for the "Promotion of the cultural, tourist, and human ressources in the cross-border region"
Bulgaria, 2006 – 2007 Client: Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (PHARE) Promotion
of cultural heritage and tourism to improve economic development,
creation of new jobs and promotion of cooperation networks between
Bulgarian and Greek organisations. Improvement to the infrastructure of
cultural heritage sites. Keywords:
Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Public Private Partnerships, Training,
Cross-border Cooperation (CBC), Grant Scheme Management, Human
Ressources Development, Infrastructure
Elaboration of the CEMAC regional economic programme
CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa), 2008 Client: Delegation of the European Commission to the Central African Republic Design
of a regional economic programme (2008-2015) assessing various
development issues in the CEMAC region and identifying priority actions
in order to achieve sustainable diversified shared growth. Keywords: Programming, Social and Economic Development, Interregional Cooperation
Regional development for the Xiangjiang river ecological and economic corridor
China, 2001 – 2002 Client: Hunan Provincial Government Investigation
of the ecological conditions along the river Xiangjiang to identify
locations for a sustainable development of recreation and tourism
facilities. Design of flood control and environmental protection
measures, investigation of the regional cultural heritage, three
museums and plans for a theme park and recreation parks. Keywords: Master Plan, Tourism, Cultural heritage, Natural Heritage, Environment, Flood Control
Support to the Social Fund for Development in preparing the
programme budget estimate and preparing/launching three Works Tenders
and one Call for Proposals
Egypt, 2007 – 2008 Client: Delegation of the European Commission (MEDA) Beneficiary: Social Fund for Development Focus
on activities of the “Integrated Services for the Poor Programme”
involving infrastructure works as well as social development activities
such as education, vocational training or health in urban and rural
areas suffering from poverty. Keywords: Poverty Reduction, Socio-economic Development, Infrastructure, Procurement, Grant Scheme Management, Evaluation
Development concept cultural landscape garden “e-garden in the Dirndltal” and “Dirndl Experience” in the Pielachtal
Austria, 2005 - 2008 Client: “Verein Daheim” im Pielachtal Designing
a development concept and business plan for the Pielach Valley in Lower
Austria, providing it with an unique and coherent regional profile to
market its agricultural, horticultural, industrial and tourism related
products more effectively. Focus on product development, marketing,
training and public private partnerships. Keywords: Feasibility Study, Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Natura 2000, Marketing, Training, Public Private Partnerships
Preparation of a sustainable tourism strategy
Bhutan, 2003 – 2005 Client: Austrian Development Agency Beneficiary: Department of Tourism Establishment
of a long term strategy for continued support to the policy of
ecotourism in Bhutan, development of measures for sustainable
management and protection of natural ressources, job creation, SME and
local community based development, financial and training support,
improvement of service quality via the proposed Hotel Management and
Tourism Training Institute. Keywords:
Master Plan, Tourism, Marketing, Vocational Education and Training
(VET), Natural Heritage, Environment, SME Development, Public Private
Partnerships
