Russia – Novgorod Partnership Program (NPP)

ACDI/VOCA, through a sub-grant agreement with IREX, implemented the NPP with the Novgorod Agency for Small and Medium-sized Business Support and the Novgorod State Fund for Small Business Development in 1998. The program targeted the four least economically developed regions of Novgorod and provided training to local entrepreneurs and representatives of the local administration on business planning. The program also sponsored a business plan competition. As a result of the program, four seminars were held and 100 participants received training. An ACDI/VOCA consultant, in conjunction with specialists from two Novgorod business support institutions, conducted the trainings.