About Us - ABCO Georgia     
Members    Services    Projects  Contacts

Projects

Below are listed the projects implemented by "ABCO-Georgia" through its member organizations over the period of the last few years:

Global Training for Development" sponsored by USAID through Academy of Educational Development (AED) was implemented the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Guria, during which more than 500 local farmers and private entrepreneurs were trained in different areas of modern business conduct. This training program was conducted for the credit line of the International Orthodox Church Charities (IOCC);

2002 -Association delivered 2 training sessions on Business Planing, Marketing and financial Planning in districts of Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe for IOM's (International Organization of Migration) Micro Finance Program.

2002 -ABCO-Georgia implemented the "Training and Consulting" component of the State Program for Temporary and Permanent Employment of the Unemployed Persons. Under the above program, 234 registered unemployed persons were selected (through testing), subsequently trained and provided with direct consulting in business planning. As result of the program implementation, 110 business plans were developed by participants and 52 unempoyed persons receved bank loans and started their own business. At the same time, consulting was provided for those entrepreneurs as well, which prepared their business plans within the framework of the state program for "Facilitation of Social Security and Employment of the Unemployed". At the stage of loan allocation and project implementation, consulting was provided for both established businessmen (considered within the scope of the program) and to former unemployed persons which started their entreprises. This training and consulting program was tied with a credit-line, implemented through the "Bank of Georgia";

2002 - "ABCO-Georgia" created or facilitated to creation of the following new BCOs in Kvemo Kartli region - Rustavi Business Center (in town Rustavi) and Marneuli Business Center (in town Marneuli) - through financial support from GTZ) as well as Akhalkalaki Business Center in town Akhalkalaki of Samtskhe-Javakheti region -through financial support from OSGF - Soros Foundation);

2003 - The Association implemented the Training and Consulting component of the State Program for Temporary and Permanent Employment of the Unemployed Persons. Under the above program, 452 registered unemployed persons were selected (through testing), subsequently trained and provided with direct consulting in business planning. As result of the program implementation, business plans were developed by 208 participants and 98 unempoyed persons receved bank loans and started their own business. At the same time, consulting was provided for those entrepreneurs as well, which prepared their business plans within the framework of the state program for "Facilitation of Social Security and Employment of the Unemployed". At the stage of loan allocation and project implementation, consulting was provided for both established businessmen (considered within the scope of the program) and to former unemployed persons which started their entreprises. This training and consulting program was tied with a credit-line, implemented through the "Bank of Georgia";

2003 - within the framework of the World Bank's "Irrigation Project", the Association implemented the business training program in the areas of General Agriculture, Agricultural Business Management, Organizational Development, Financial Management and Accounting. The program covered the whole territory of Georgia;

2003 - "ABCO-Georgia", together with Horizonti Foundation, participated in the implementation of the USAID funded Georgian Energy Security Initiative (GESI) program managed by PA Consulting Group. The project implied provision of the selected communities from different regions of Georgia with support and facilitation in development of their own stable sources of energy supply, income generation capabilities and the overall community development. The task of "ABCO -Georgia" within the project included implementation of its economic part - elaboration of the economic development strategy for target communities, assistance in preparation of concrete economic and business project and provision of business training in accordance with the above strategy;

2003/2004 - The Association implemented the Credit Facilitation Project under which large number of private companies in Gori region of Georgia were be trained and individually consulted in order to enhance their credit utilization opportunities and strengthen their loan management capabilities. This 9 months period project was initiated and funded by the Eurasia Foundation.

2004 -Association delivered 7 training courses for local communities in Business Planning, Marketing and financial Planning in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Gori and Akhaltsikhe for Mercy Corps' GCMI Economic Development Program.

2004 - The Association conducted The Training of Trainers course within the program "Training for Young Entrepreneurs", ordered and financed by OSCE and GTZ. Within the framework of the program, training materials delivered by OSCE were translated into Georgian, Russian and Azerbaijan languages and adapted to Georgian reality. This training program was delivered for staff consultants of Marneuli and Rustavi business centers.

2004 - ABCO - Georgia conducted the market survey for "Tetroni" Ltd. (currently, the company produces detergents and means of disinfections). ABCO-Georgia experts made analysis of current target market in Georgia and elaborated the overall marketing strategy for future company products.

2004 - ABCO-Georgia implemented the Borrowers Training Course conducted within the Credit Facility component of the USAID funded Georgia Energy Security Initiative (GESI) project carried out in Georgia conducted by PA Consulting Group. The project provided for building of the private business development capacities and creditworthiness among entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises in 10 target communities from different localities of Georgia, to assist them in accessing finance for improving business opportunities through the use or provision of clean energy. The task of ABCO-Georgia within the above project was provision of training to selected local entrepreneurs with subsequent preparation of at least 100 credit applications (10 per each community) for development of local businesses with total worth of credit applications amounting to USD 2,962,139.00. All the tasks within the project were successfully accomplished.

2004 - "ABCO-Georgia" evaluated economic impact of community development projects implemented by Mercy Corps within the frame of Georgia Community Mobilization Initiative (GCMI) program. In total, 18 different projects from Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli and Samtskhe Javakheti regions were evaluated.

2004 - "ABCO-Georgia" implemented the Training and Consulting component of the State Program for Temporary and Permanent Employment of the Unemployed Persons for the year 2004. Within the program framework 249 registered unemployed persons were trained and provided with direct consulting in business planning. As result of the program implementation, business plans were developed by 120 participants. The training and consulting component of this program for the year 2004 was sponsored by UNDP.

2004-2005 "ABCO-Georgia", together with Winrock International implemented the project on Market Assessment of SME Activities in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Georgia. Project was funded by the IFC/GRF within the Environmental Business Finance Program (EBFP).

2005 "ABCO-Georgia" implemented the training program for the Gali Business Center. Within the program, 12 selected persons from Gali district were provided with 10 days long Training of Trainers (ToT) training course in Business Planning, followed by 20 days of on-the-job training at the offices of ABCO-Georgia and its member organizations (Akhaltsikhe Business Center and Akhalkalaki Business Center). As result of the ToT course, 5 people were selected for the staff of Gali Business Center;

2005-2006 - "ABCO-Georgia" together with Urban Institute, implemented the "Economic Development Planning (EDP)" component within the project of "Communities Empowered for Local Decision-making" (CELD) program. ABCO-Georgia participated in the EDP manual preparation by development of written recommendations on revisions to the EDP process manual to bring the manual contents in compliance with the CELD Economic Development Planning concept. Furthermore, "ABCO-Georgia" developed the guidebook on "Doing Business in Georgia", updated "The International Funds Guide", developed the concepts, possible models for Georgia and business plans of such entities as "Municipal One-Stop Shop", "Business Information Center" and "Tourist Information Center". The Association assisted UI in implementation of the Economic Development Program in Akhaltsikhe district of Samtskhe-Javalketi region and in other target areas in Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia;

2006 - "ABCO-Georgia" together with Mercy Corps, implemented the European Commission grant project "Integrated Poverty Reduction Program in Vulnerable Rural Communities of Samtskhe -Javakheti Region". ABCO's role in the project included implementation of its economic development component (development of local enterprises and farmer organizations, establishment of market linkages and chains for local enterprises with central markets, re-integration of local economic activities into the whole country economy, etc.) and provision of technical assistance in local economic planning;

2006 - "ABCO-Georgia" together with Winrock International, implements the "Georgia Rural Energy Project" aimed at increasing the energy (both grid and off-grid) supply in rural areas, improvement of in-country capacity in rural energy and alternative energy application as well as improvement of local capacity to utilize and protect the local energy resource base. ABCO's role in the project includes provision of the following scope of works: project promotion and site selection, development and delivery of business plan training and general business training programs, preparation of business profiles and completion of credit applications for targeted local Independent Power Providers (IPPs), evaluation of target communities' income generation potential as well as provision of general project support.

2006- "ABCO-Georgia", through Grant from Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Georgia, implemented the project on "Youth's Business Development". The project was carried out in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia and aimed at facilitation to the increase of business development opportunities among local youth by equipping the determined number of students (both post and under graduates) of local branch of Tbilisi State University with theoretical knowledge and core set of practical skills in modern business planning and conduct through delivery of specifically designed training program for youth that stimulate further establishment and development of their business activities and help to form a stable source of income for themselves and their families.
The project included provision of the selected number of students proposing the viable business ideas, with direct individual business consulting services from the qualified consultants of "ABCO-Georgia" in order to help them to elaborate a proper business plan for their chosen activity.
The final stage of the program included holding of a competition among the business plans developed by students with purpose of selecting the most feasible business plans which became the subject of further provision of financing from the project partner organization - "TAO Foundation".

2006 - "ABCO-Georgia", together with CARE Caucasus, participates in the implementation of the project on "Sustainable Livelihoods in Adigeni and Adjacent Rayons" (SLAAR 2), carried out in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia and aimed at achieving of sustainable improvements in livelihoods of rural people and reduction of poverty in the highland areas of Georgia. ABCO's role in the project implementation implies facilitation to farmers, small rural businesses and community groups in target districts in creating new and increasing the efficiency of the existed businesses, establishment of market linkages for local productions, etc.

2006 - "ABCO-Georgia", together with CARE Caucasus, participates in the implementation of the project on "Community Investment Program" (CIP-2) aimed at achieving of sustainable social-economical development of communities located along the BTC (Baku Tbilsi Ceyhan) and SCP Oil and Gas pipelines through ensuring the improvement of the livelihood and employment of local population and strengthening of local civic society. ABCO's role in the project implementation includes provision of its economic development part through activities aimed at facilitation of increasing the efficiency of the existed businesses and creation and development of new businesses, establishment of market linkages for local productions, etc. The Goal of the project is to enhance relations between BP and the pipeline through improved livelihood security and employment, and strengthened civil society.

___________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2002-2006 ABCO Georgia. All Rights Reserved.