Center for Citizen Initiatives

The Consulting Services for Russian Entrepreneurship (CSRE) Program worked to strengthen local Business Support Organizations (BSOs), private businesses, and restructured firms in order to promote sustainable economic development in eight regions of Russia. By working with select local BSOs, the program assisted in the development of a dynamic private business sector through the rapid dissemination of critical sector-specific information and strategies, the transfer of technology, and linkages with successful Russian and American businesses. The program assisted and promoted Russian business support organizations, NGOs and financial institutions and, through collaboration with USAID and other donor supported business centers, served as a conduit for wider dissemination of business support and consulting assistance.

Program Goals:

Strengthen BSOs towards a goal of better cost-recovery, increased sustainability and services delivery so that the process of business development and support becomes indigenous and self-executing.
Strengthen private business capacity to attract and use capital effectively.
Create and distribute replicable models of private ownership and modern management.
Increase opportunities for U.S. business investment and trade.
Affect policy changes at the local and regional level to support private sector development.

CSRE provided:

Short-term volunteer technical assistance missions (length 4-5 weeks).
Training oriented to training of trainers and BSO staff.
Information dissemination: publications, Internet web site, etc.
U.S. based volunteers
Business-to-Business linkages and strategic alliances.
Risk assessment analytical capability.
Linkages with credit and funding institutions.
Linkages between SMEs, local officials and policy-makers.

Russian Based

American Based

Marketing
Technology Development
New Product Development
Cash Flow Analysis
Risk Assessment
Business Management
Quality Control
Proposal Development for Joint Venture and Investment Opportunities
Preparation for Share-Offerings

Business Organizations
Market Plan Development
Contracts and Enforcement
International Trade and Commerce
Client Identification/Assessment
Budget Management
Training-of-Trainers

Quotes from Volunteers

"The greatest journey of my life!"
Dan Gonchoroff, Sverdlovskstroytrans (Ekaterinburg), November 1998.

"The program is so well organized that I felt very confident about what was expected of me, and what information I needed to prepare for maximum benefit. It was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity that I would probably try to experience again!"
Annette Demaray, Ekaterinburg Center for Advertisement Placing, May 1998.

"The people who organized the mission were incredibly thorough. I spent my time there working-not dealing with problems. This was a remarkable exchange that benefited not only the school but myself in a profound way."
Gina Cooley, EcoSchool (Novosibirsk), April 1998.

"I think showing the people we are there to help means so much to them."
Rudy Stoysich, Manchazhskiy Sausage Company (Ekaterinburg), August 1998.

"I have enjoyed being involved in developing an effective extension service to better serve Russia's people and farmers."
Wayne Vandre, Farming Development Service (Zadonsk and Arzamas), June 1998.

"On a personal level, very rewarding. I was treated with thoughtfulness and courtesy both within and outside business context."
David Smart, Ekaterinburg Chamber of Merchandise Manufacturers, November 1998.

Program Goals:

CSRE provided:

Volunteer Assignments

Quotes from Volunteers

Contact Information: