E C P E F EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME “Support of women and youth entrepreneurship in remote districts of Uzbekistan ” Mid – Term Briefing Meeting, Brussels, 15 March 2010

2 THE PROJECT Budget: 249,981€ EU financing: 199,985€ - own contribution: 49,996 € Duration: 31 st March 2009 – 31 st December 2010 Locations: Baysyn district of Surkhandarya Oblast, Pakhtakor district of Djizzak Oblast Target groups:Women and youth wishing to start up own business, micro and small businesses support institutions, professional associations, local authorities and micro and small businesses Beneficiaries: 50 women and young people wishing to start up own business, 20 entrepreneurs and SMEs from Djizzak and Surkhandarya Oblasts in Uzbekistan, UZACE staff and members and members of local women’s organizations.

3 K.E.T.A. ATTIC ELESMA ANCE BWA UZACE THE PARTNERS Greece: Centre for Business and Technological Development (KETA Attica), Hellenic Management Consulting Association (ELESMA), Athens Network of Collaborating Experts (ANCE) Uzbekistan: Uzbek Association of Consulting Engineers (UZACE)

4 OVERALL OBJECTIVES TEXT AΞΟΝΑΣ 1 Job Creation by Engaging in Activities Civil Society Agents and Local Institutions Supporting Business / Economic Cooperation Between Uzbekistan and Europe PART 1 OBJECTIVE 1OBJECTIVE 2 OBJECTIVE 3

5 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE Financial Guidance Clustering Processes Technological Development Marketing Production SME’s Export Services BWA UZACE

6 April 26th - May 4th Phase I of IMPLEMENTATION Kick - off meeting In Tashkent with the Partners (April 2009) Presentation of the Programme at:  Europa House  EuropAid Project “TA to the State Customs Committee”  NANNOUz  Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan

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8 April 26th - May 4th Phase I of IMPLEMENTATION… In Djizzak (May 2009) - Enhancing Awareness – information meeting Participants:  1 State Representative  2 Regional Representatives  6 Officials from Local Business Organizations  5 Entrepreneurs  2 Journalists Media Coverage:  Local TV Channel  Local newspapers  Greek newspapers

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10 Phase I of IMPLEMENTATION In Athens  Elaboration of Inception Report  Data Collection and Elaboration of Teaching Materials, for Clustering ( Synergies ) and Business Angels ( Coaching )  Translation of the Teaching Material into Russian  Creation of the Project’s Web site –  First Transfer of the Grant to the initial Partners  Presentation of Programme to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consul of the Republic of Uzbekistan  Collection of Information about other entrepreneurship programmes implemented in Uzbekistan  Promotion of Project through KETA, ANCE and ELESMA websites June March 2010

11 Phase I of IMPLEMENTATION June March 2010 In Uzbekistan  Review of Teaching material in Russian for the Teacher training course  Collection of Information and Data about the Business Environment, Business Start-ups and Development in Uzbekistan  Awareness raising of the Project through Events, UZACE Web site and other Publications (Magazine, Leaflets)  Capacity Building of UZACE  Training of UZACE staff  Purchase of Equipment

12 Problem Solving June March 2010 Trip to Uzbekistan - February 2010  Signing of supplementary contract with partner  Future planning  Presentation of the changes to Europa house

13 Phase I of IMPLEMENTATION  Selection of 40 trainers from Pakhtakor (Djizzak) and Baysyn (Surkhandarya) to be trained in Tashkent (February - March 2010)  “Training of Trainers” seminars scheduled to take place in Tashkent (mid April 2010)

14 Communication Activities During the Initial Phase  Information meeting in Djizzak.  Press Release in the local newspapers  T.V. coverage of information meeting During the Phase I  Creation of the project web site  Promotion of the project through the partners’ web sites  Information meeting with the Uzbek Consulate in Athens, as well as the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs  Promotion of the project’s objectives through a number of events (meetings, conferences, seminars) in Uzbekistan. Publication of leaflets  Reference of the project in a special issue of “Consulting Engineers of Uzbekistan”

15 Communication Activities

16 Communication Activities Communication Activities for 2010  Publication of 2 newsletters, after the Grant Committee approval and the continuation of the implementation  Enrichment and promotion of the web sites  1 information event in Baysyn – meeting with the stakeholders  2 press conferences and press releases in Pakhtakor and Baysyn  1 press conference and press release in Tashkent for dissemination of project results

17 Financial Absorption Statement All YearsBUDGETED Year 1 ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION Year 1 ExpensesCosts (in EUR) Absorption Rate 1. Human Resources ,8% 2. Travel ,0% 3. Equipment and supplies ,1% 4. Local office ,5% 5. Other costs, services ,7% 6. Other ,0% 7. Subtotal direct eligible costs of the Action (1-6) ,1% 8. Provision for contingency reserve (maximum 5% of 7, subtotal of direct eligible costs of the Action) ,6% 9. Total direct eligible costs of the Action (7+ 8) ,4% 10. Administrative costs (maximum 7% of 9, total direct eligible costs of the Action) ,3% 11. Total eligible costs (9+10) ,6%

18 Problems Encountered  The Grant Commission in Tashkent did not approve the grant for one of our partners. The funds were returned to our bank in Greece. (Nov 2009)  Our Partner declared they could no longer participate in the project (Dec 2009)  Change in partnership discussed with IBPP officials in Brussels (Jan 2010)  Supplementary contract signed with partner in Uzbekistan (Jan 2010)  Transfer of funds related to the supplementary contract (Jan 2010) Result : 1) The project implementation has been delayed 2) Uncertainty about Grant Commission’s approval of the supplementary contract and fund (we don’t know if our solution will be accepted)

19 Lessons Learned  NANNOUz was not very effective in expediting grant approvals. The delays adversely impact project implementation