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UNMIK/PR/652
A 674,000 DM grant program financed by the Italian government and implemented by UNMIK's Civil Administration has resulted in income generation for hundreds of Kosovo residents. The UNMIIK Resource Management Monitoring Center, established in April 2000, designed a program to foster employment and income generation through small and medium sized business development. Support was donated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs General Directorate to implement the project. UNMIK officials traveled throughout Kosovo to solicit applications, of which several hundred were received, for three different types of projects. Benefeciaries were to be disadvantaged persons or groups,--i.e. minorities--, unemployed, youth and signed-headed households. As of September, 29 income generation projects have been assisted in 13 municipalities and DM 103,930 of DM 200,000 available has been distributed to beneficiaries. Disbursement of funds was done by the RMCC with municipal authorities and local community officers. In the project to allocate finance credits, the project implementing partner, the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) has approved allocation of DM 117,500 to 63 entrepreneurs, mostly women, in five municipalities. US AID contributed seed capital of DM 642,450. Recipients targeted were people who normally lacked access to credit. In the training aspect of the program, the International Labor Organization is sending a mobile training team to conduct 20 sessions over the next year, involving 400 entrepreneurs starting their own business projects. This month 20 women from Vuciturn/Vushtrri took part in a week-long training program. The focus is on developing management skills and creating contacts among local business people. For more information, contact Mr. Hailu Mamo, Resource Management Monitoring Center: UNMIK ext. 5512.
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