Eurasia Foundation Network trains entrepreneurs, helps them access capital and removes government barriers to business.
In Ukraine, the East Europe Foundation (EEF), in partnership with OSCE, implements the Local Economic Development (LEAD) program to stimulate economic development and job creation. LEAD helps local partners resolve problems using local resources, providing assistance with a combination of grants, networking opportunities and technical assistance. Over the past five years, Eurasia Foundation and EEF have invested more than $750,000, helped 14 regions of Ukraine create almost 2,700 new jobs and start over 1,200 new businesses.
In Belarus, the New Eurasia Establishment’s (NEE) Local Economic Development program works to grow local businesses in Belarus’ most vulnerable areas by introducing new and innovative business models. The program also trains entrepreneurs and small business staff, strengthens centers for rural development, provides consultation in the areas of rural tourism and credit unions and supports events promoting small businesses.
In 2006, Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) launched its Kazakhstan Artisans Business Development program, which aims to preserve cultural traditions and support craftspeople by improving and developing their business skills. Seventy percent of trainees in Southern Kazakhstan reported that they were able to enhance the variety of crafts they produce after learning new techniques and 45 percent said that they increased their sales.
In 2008, Eurasia Foundation launched the Online Women and Entrepreneurship program, an online distance learning program for entrepreneurial young women in Iran and throughout the Eurasia region. The program offers English and Persian language training in finance, marketing, business plan development and e-commerce. In the future, EF plans to expand the program to include Russian and Turkish languages.
