Macedonia – Macedonia Agricultural Association Support Project

promoting the development of private farmers associations

In September 1999 ACDI/VOCA began implementing a USAID-funded two-year project promoting the development of private farmers associations in the Republic of Macedonia. The project assisted agricultural associations in the development of high-value member services in exchange for association income. The project also helped members reduce production costs and access better markets, while simultaneously providing income to their associations.

ACDI/VOCA worked with associations as development partners by channeling the majority of project assistance through them, including consultations by local and U.S. experts and customized training programs. The associations took an active role in designing and delivering the technical assistance services offered. They partnered with project staff in defining needs, selecting beneficiaries, organizing training and designing income-generating member services.

ACDI/VOCA also provided grants through its Association Income-Generation Starter Grants program to help associations develop income-generating member services such as bulk purchase and resale of inputs to members at discounted prices and/or facilitating larger scale marketing services or contracts. The grants ranged between $2,000 - $5,000 coupled with a 25 percent association match.