USAID EMPOWER Private Sector Activity Quarterly Report #14

The project began in July 2014 with an original budget of $9.8 million, which was later expanded to $13.8 million through Sida's contribution of additional funds during the project's second year. The project team consists of 18 staff members and five interns, with headquarters in Pristina and a branch office in North Mitrovica. Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd. implements the project, with subcontractors Crimson Capital and RTC Consulting. In Quarter 14, the project organized the First Albanian Diaspora Business Forum in Pristina, a joint initiative with the Albanian Diaspora Business Network. The forum resulted in €900,000 in new sales and is expected to generate additional sales in the coming period. Over 250 diaspora businesses, 50 regional businesses, and more than 150 Kosovo-based businesses participated in the forum, with nine contract deals reported and 36 potential deals underway. The forum featured B2B activities between Kosovar and diaspora businesses, with over 350 meetings held during the second day. The project focuses on two main components: Competitive SMEs and Workforce Development. In the Competitive SMEs component, the project supports various sectors, including wood, apparel, energy, and tourism. In the Workforce Development component, the project focuses on workforce development in the ICT sector and other sectors. The project also addresses cross-cutting issues, such as women's empowerment, youth employment, and environmental compliance. The project's results are tracked through Performance Management Indicators (PMIs), which measure progress against targets. In Quarter 14, the project achieved significant results, including a 27% increase in sales and a 15% increase in job creation compared to the previous quarter. The project also reported a 25% increase in the number of supported activities and a 30% increase in the number of jobs created in priority populations. The project's results are expected to continue improving in the coming period, with a focus on increasing sales and job creation in key sectors.