In addition to its grantmaking programs, the Eurasia Foundation directly implements technical assistance programs that extend the reach of small grants and focus resources in targeted sectoral and geographical areas. Currently, the Foundation administers three programs that address the core mandate goals of small business development, economic education and policy reform, and growth of independent media. These programs are:
The Economics Education and Research Consortium (EERC), comprising a two-year, English language master's degree program in economics in Ukraine and in Russia a program of small grants and technical training for research.
The Small Business Lending Program (SBLP), providing loans with longer maturities and lower interest rates to small businesses while delivering training in lending methodologies to its local partner banks in Ukraine and Armenia.
The Media Viability Fund (MVF), combining small grants, training in marketing and management, and low interest loans for capital investment to newspapers in selected markets in Ukraine and Russia.
The Foundation projects - EERC, SBLP, and MVF - have the ability to deliver a deep impact in targeted sectors by helping to change the environment in which economic and political change occurs. By providing working capital to small enterprises and an effective lending methodology to local banks, the SBLP can contribute to the emergence of a sector that creates jobs and amplifies the voice of small entrepreneurs in the political arena. By forging links between economics academics and government decision makers, the EERC can help change the nature of economic policy debates in Russia and Ukraine. By offering alternatives to government monopolies in the printing and distribution of newspapers while enhancing the possibility for growth of these small enterprises, the MVF is able both to assist in the establishment of independent media outlets and to change the perceptions of potential investors and local governments toward the media.
This document (c) 2000, The Eurasia Foundation.
Direct questions or comments to webmaster@eurasia.org.
