AID grant no. 624-0272-G-00-1071-00 to Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE) for the development of micro enterprises through coordination of credit and technical training in the Maradi region of Niger

The project represents the second phase of an activity initially launched with counterpart funds generated under Program 6830246. There will be six major activities: (1) establishment of a rural bank to provide clients with credit for capital and equipment purchases; (2) testing of appropriate technologies for rural microenterprises; (3) individual and group training in several skill areas, including sewing, electronics, and auto mechanics; (4) entrepreneurial development, including business planning seminars for potential entrepreneurs; (5) a rural extension service, using 15 agents to provide management advice, investigate and approve credit dossiers, identify promising ventures, and create credit and training groups; and (6) semiannual economic surveys to help coordinate and evaluate project activities. Targets are to create 15,000 businesses, introduce 50 new appropriate technologies, provide TA and technical training to 2,500 persons and management and entrepreneurial training to 3,000, and create 5,000 jobs.