PROJECTS IN KOSOVO
Kosovo Property Governance Activity (USAID)
2022
- 2025
Funded by the US Agency for
International Development (USAID), the Property Governance Activity (PGA)
project was designed to improve the property rights system in Kosovo in order
to reduce corruption, increase women’s empowerment, and improve formal property
rights and investments in real property. Crimson supported the Property
Governance Activity by engaging the private sector to strengthen Kosovo’s
property rights regime.
Kosovo Private Sector-Led Workforce Development Activity
(USAID)
2022
- 2027
Funded by the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Kosovo Private Sector-Led Workforce Development
Activity (PSWD) is a five-year project designed to harness the
leadership of the private sector as a change agent to develop
sustainable and innovative models to develop the Kosovo workforce and
better align work skills and market needs. Crimson supports PWFD by
advancing private sector leadership in collaboratively determining
needs, designing and financing tailored workforce solutions. Crimson is
contributing to PWFD through a sub-award from IREX.
Kosovo Green Recovery and Opportunity Window
2021 - 2022
Funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Green Recovery and Opportunity Window project (GROW) in Kosovo was designed to build the capacity of project investors to develop renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects that can be backed by a guarantee from the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund (KCGF). Crimson supported GROW through capacity development for potential project investors, vendors and partner financial institutions (PFIs), as well as through implementation of outreach and marketing activities, including working with equipment vendors, industry associations, banking associations and other key stakeholders. Crimson’s work and contributions on GROW included:
Leading development of GROW Marketing & Engagement Plan including conducting a survey of energy use behaviors and attitudes in 15 municipalities across Kosovo.
Leading implementation of GROW’s outreach campaign, including development of the KCGF’s green energy website; development of content for social media; development of press releases; PR materials including, brochures, flyers and electronic files; and organization and logistical support in organizing Project awareness raising and training events for segmented stakeholder groups.
Developing standardized document templates for RE IPPs, self-producers and other eligible entities that support project financing through adoption of international best practices for technical, environmental, social, financial, and regulatory issues contextualized to the Kosovo market.
Providing training and technical assistance to IPP developers, self-producers, and local eligible entities to prepare documents to be submitted to banks using the standardized framework and templates.
Supporting a pipeline of bankable/investable RE/EE projects, including a structured program to support IPPs and other eligible entities to overcome challenges and reach financial close.
In just one year, the Project succeeded in generating a pipeline of bankable RE/EE projects with a capacity of approximately 54 MW, over double the original target set by the donor
Kosovo Economic Governance Activity (KEGA) Project (USAID)
2019
- 2024
Funded by the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Kosovo Economic Governance Activity (KEGA) was a
five-year project designed to improve the enabling environment for private
sector growth and strengthen public financial management capacities and systems
in Kosovo. Crimson’s work on KEGA included: Leading KEGA’s public-private dialogue (PPD)
activities, which engaged the private sector, civil society, and citizens in
property legalization related activities. Crimson also led activities in public
financial management (PFM). Crimson supported the Ministry of Finance’s
Macroeconomics Division to establish the first ever macro-fiscal training
induction package, as well as a digital library to support institutional
knowledge retention and management of staff turnover. Crimson also worked with
the Treasury Department to identify and implement improvements in
classification of government transactions for more reliable and transparent
expenditure data.
Kosovo Crimson Finance Fund (USAID, NORFUND, Crimson Capital)
2008 - 2022
Crimson designed and managed the Crimson SME Finance Fund - Kosovo (CFF). CFF Kosovo provided innovative financial products (purchase order finance, pre-export financing, trade finance and leasing of productive equipment) and financial literacy/management capacity building to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Funded by USAID, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) and Crimson Capital, CFF was fully licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Kosovo as a non-bank financial institution (NBFI), and audited according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
CFF made more than $29.5 million in loans and leases to SMEs, stimulating more than $147 million in new incremental sales and resulting in the creation of more than 3,900 new jobs, including over 900 for women and minorities. CFF loans helped its clients support over 3,100 farmers, 170 collection/storage centers, and over 4,300 SME suppliers.
In 2022, Crimson attracted the German company, Sanus Beteiligungs AG, to invest EUR 4 million into CFF Kosovo. It now operates as Deutsche Investment Fund and continues the commitment to serve underserved businesses in Kosovo including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women owned businesses, and entrepreneurs
Improving Energy and Resource Efficiency in Greenhouse Cultivation Project (USAID)
2019 - 2021
Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the “Improving Energy and Resource Efficiency in Greenhouse Cultivation” project researched and brought to light improvements in technologies for greenhouse cultivation in Kosovo, and how to finance them, in two primary areas: Renewable Energy Technologies; and (2) Hydroponics. Building on field research and data collected from selected greenhouse operators in Kosovo, the project developed optimal technological packages for greenhouse operators and a toolkit for the sector of technological options for renewable energy and hydroponics applications that reduce energy costs, reduce natural resource use and improve energy reliability and overall efficiency of greenhouse operations. Through the project, Crimson also worked with selected greenhouse operators to source and structure financing for the identified technological improvements. The project was financed through USAID’s global Small Business Applied Research (SBAR) initiative.
Kosovo After School Support for Teens (ASSET) program (USAID)
2017 - 2022
Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Kosovo After School Support for Teens (ASSET) program was a five-year activity designed to improve entrepreneurial skills and post-primary school employability, targeting grade 9-12. Crimson supported implementation of ASSET by aligning program activities with private-sector employment needs.
USAID EMPOWER Credit Support Project in Kosovo (USAID)
2015 - 2017
Funded by the US Agency for
International Development, the EMPOWER Credit Support Project was
designed to increase access to finance for underserved SMEs by
establishing a guarantee facility, the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund
(KCGF). Successfully established in April, 2016 KCGF is now a local,
permanent, revolving and financially sustainable credit guarantee fund,
licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Kosovo that issues loan
guarantees to commercial banks to reduce risk in SME lending.
Under the EMPOWER Credit Support Project, Crimson played an instrumental
role in the design and establishment of the Kosovo Credit Guarantee
Fund, through the provision of business, financial, credit, risk, and
legal and regulatory advisory services and by consensus building among
key government, donor, financial institutions, chambers of commerce,
civil society and other stakeholders. Today, the KCGF is a sustainable,
independently operating guarantee facility that has backed over €63
million in loans to SMEs operating in manufacturing, retail,
agriculture, construction and services.
Private Sector Competitiveness and Employment Generation Activity (EMPOWER) Project in Kosovo (USAID)
2014 - 2020
Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Private Sector Competitiveness and Employment Generation Activity (EMPOWER) project in Kosovo was designed to increase competitiveness in growth-ready sectors and facilitate inclusive private sector job-creation. Crimson supported implementation of EMPOWER by assisting SMEs improve their operations, become more competitive, and create new jobs.
Under the EMPOWER activity, Crimson conducted preliminary technical, human capacity building and financial investment needs assessments on roughly 500 businesses in the wood processing, apparel, energy, tourism, metal processing, and hospitality sectors and conducted detailed assessments and supply-chain mapping for the energy, IT, wood-processing, apparel and leather sectors. In addition, Crimson facilitated direct market linkages and sales from Kosovo to Europe resulting in the creation of over $330 million in new sales and more than 4,250 new jobs, out of which more than a third were for women, and over 10% for minorities.
Partners for Development (PFD) Project in Kosovo (USAID)
2014 - 2018
Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), PFD was
designed to enhance the enabling environment for private sector growth
and expand employment opportunities in Kosovo. Crimson supported
implementation of PFD by assisting the Government of Kosovo (GoK)
improve macroeconomic policy and public financial management and further
develop the system of construction permitting and spatial planning.
Through PFD, Crimson supported:
The organizational development of the National Council for Economic Development (NCED), an important body for high-level public private dialogue (PPD), which plays a crucial role in government policy agenda and reforms.
Work with the Office of the Prime Minister and ministries in adopting budget impact assessment (BIA) methodology to better ensure that the budgetary costs of proposed policies and legislation are considered.
Streamlining business legal and regulatory requirements, including improved operations of the Kosovo Business Registration Agency (KBRA) and Municipal Business Registration Centers (MBRCs).
The development of a new Law on Business Organization, which entered into force in May 2018.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) negotiate a 22-month fiscal consolidation program with the International Monetary Fund, helping the GoK receive 172 million EUR in concessional financing.
Significant process improvements in public financial management, resulting in improved linkages between policy prioritization and the medium-term budgeting process through a sectoral approach to medium-term budgeting, the institutionalization of the UN Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG), improvement of BIA practices and introduction of Gender-Responsible Budgeting (GRB) principals at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MIT) and the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP).
The Ministry of Finance in introducing Government Finance Statistics (GFS) in line with international standards, publishing monthly fiscal reports and providing public access to 12 years of fiscal data.
The Tax Administration of Kosovo (TAK) to transition to 100% electronic tax filing.
Innovation Centre Kosovo (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
2011 - 2014
In partnership with Athene Prosjektledelse AS, Crimson supported the
establishment and development of the Innovation Centre in Kosovo (ICK).
Crimson developed and managed the ICK Incubator, which assists
entrepreneurs in developing their business concepts. The ICK Incubator
provides services to young companies and entrepreneurs in Kosovo,
including hosting, training, consulting services and support for
R&D.
During the life of the project, the ICK Incubator hosted more than 230
tenants divided into 50 teams, out of which 22 became fully registered
and operational businesses. These companies offer a wide variety of
Information and Communication products and services, including mobile
applications, web-portals, networking solutions and home automation.
ICK and Crimson organized Pristina Start-up Weekends in 2011, 2012, 2013
and 2014. Theses start-up events gathered more than 100 participants
with backgrounds in programming, design and marketing. Start-up Weekends
offer a venue where young entrepreneurs get the chance to work on their
ideas, benefit from experienced mentors, build networks and meet their
peers.
ICK and Crimson also prepared and published specialized manuals for
start-ups and entrepreneurs to help guide them through the initial
stages of business operations in Kosovo, published in English, Albanian
and Serbian, including:
How to Start a Business
Accessing Finance
International Trade
Intellectual Property Rights
Crimson also assisted ICK prepare for and manage a USAID-funded a grant
program, including drafting the grants manual, application materials,
selection criteria and monitoring mechanisms in accordance with USAID
procedures. Through this program, ICK offered small grants to select
tenants to develop innovative products and services.
Kosovo Democratic Effective Municipalities Initiative (DEMI)(USAID)
2010 - 2013
The goal of the DEMI project was to strengthen municipal governance in
Kosovo, focusing particularly on building the capacity of municipal
administrations and assemblies, increasing citizens’ role in municipal
government, improving municipal service delivery, and promoting local
economic development. Crimson led DEMI’s Local Economic Development
(LED) and Municipal Performance Improvement units. Crimson DEMI staff
helped 21 partner municipalities develop or improve prioritized Local
Economic Development (LED) plans and helped 11 partner municipalities to
establish LED units.
Through DEMI, Crimson supported four partner municipalities in
developing and implementing industrial zones to facilitate investment,
contributing to the attraction of over €43 million in new investments
and creation of around 2,000 new jobs. Crimson DEMI staff also supported
the establishment of agricultural associations in five municipalities
and green markets in two municipalities that assisted over 4,000 farmers
to increase their production volume by around 10%, increase their
market coverage by over 15% and increased support funds (government and
donor funds) by over 10%. To further support local economic development,
the LED unit worked with DEMI partner municipalities and the Ministry
of Trade and Industry (MTI) to develop municipal business
profiles/investor’s guides that provide key information for potential
investors on the business environment and primary economic sectors and
opportunities in each municipality.
Crimson DEMI staff also supported improved land management in Kosovo and
supported numerous advances in the legal and regulatory framework,
including providing input into procedures for auctioning land and
property for municipal revenue generation and economic development;
providing input into the draft laws “On Allocation for Use and Exchange
of Immovable Property of the Municipality”; “On Property Tax”, “On
Internal Trade”, “On Spatial Planning”, and “On Construction”; and
provided input into the administrative instruction “Main Elements of a
Municipal Development Plan”.
Kosovo Business Enabling Environment Program (USAID)
2010 - 2013
The goal of the BEEP project was to support the
development of a business-friendly environment in Kosovo, focusing
particularly on better implementation of commercial law; improved access
to information about borrowers’ credit history; and reduced barriers to
trade. Crimson supported the efforts of the BEEP project by providing
expertise to further the development of the Credit Registry in Kosovo,
to improve the trade regime and to support the development of a business
friendly-environment overall.
Crimson supported BEEP in helping the Government of Kosovo (GoK) adopt
crucial World Bank Doing Business-impacting legal reforms related to
streamlining business registration procedures (such as the successful
introduction of a maximum three day period for issuing a business
registration certificate), reducing barriers to business entry (such as
the successful removal of charter capital requirement for LLCs),
loosening onerous regulatory requirements and eliminating unnecessary,
redundant, and burdensome government permissions (such as removing
business licensing fees at the municipal level and removing unnecessary
licensure). As part of this support, 22 municipalities were assisted in
voluntarily eliminating or suspending business license fees, making it
easier for businesses to start and operate a business. Crimson also
provided support to the National Council of Economic Development and the
Legal Office of the Prime Minister in a comprehensive review of
administrative instructions, eliminating approximately 440 that were
determined to be obsolete, duplicative or to contradict law. In
addition, Crimson supported the development of Kosovo’s first ever
electronic, searchable database of all laws and administrative
instructions, which is accessible to the public (http://gzk.rks-gov.net), and available in Albanian, Bosnian, English, Serbian and Turkish.
Working toward an improved trade regime, Crimson conducted an analysis
of the import and export process, including the development of detailed
process maps linked to articles in the laws and administrative
instructions that govern each step in the process. Based on
recommendations of this analysis, the Kosovo Customs Agency issued an
Administrative Instruction eliminating several previously required
steps/documents from the import and export process. These improvements
in streamlining the export and import process helped Kosovo advance nine
points in Trade Across Boarders in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2013
report. Further, Crimson advisors also provided support in drafting the
Law on External Trade, the Law on Safeguard Measures, the new Customs
and Excise Code of Kosovo (based on the EU 2008 Customs Code) and an
Integrated Border Management Law that is intended to improve trade
procedures and reduce time and costs related to importing and exporting
goods.
Leading the Improving Access to Finance component, Crimson supported
improvements in available credit information to reduce risks to lending.
This assistance focused on upgrading Kosovo’s Credit Registry to ensure
that more credit data is captured, that it is stored securely, that it
is available in a timely manner to authorized users, and that it is
expanded to include insurance companies as users. With support from
Crimson BEEP advisors, the GoK selected a vendor to upgrade the Credit
Registry through a public tender. The new, improved Credit Registry
system went live in September 2012. Financial institutions reported
impressive improvements over the old system; within the first month,
several banks reported a 45% decrease in the time it takes to report
credit classifications to the Central Bank of Kosovo. The upgraded
Credit Registry also allows businesses and citizens easier access to
their own credit information and includes insurance companies as users.
Within the first year of its launch, the Central Bank reported more than
a 150% increase in the number of credit requests made by businesses and
citizens.
Crimson BEEP advisors also provided technical assistance support to
improve the legal and regulatory framework for business and financial
sector. These activities included providing input on the draft Law on
Banks, Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Microfinance Institutions;
the Law on Business Organizations; the Law on Construction and related
sub-normative acts, including the Construction Code; the Draft Law on
Spatial Planning; the Draft Law on the Pledge Registry; the Draft Law on
Normative Acts; the Law on General Product Safety; and the Draft Law on
Notaries; as well as on various regulations and administrative
procedures of the Central Bank and Credit Registry.
