Support to private sector development in the field of fruits and berries in South Serbia
March 2012
Within Fruits and Berries programme, Danish programme for development of fruits sector in South Serbia, and in cooperation with BIP (Business Innovation Program), Mena Group experts (Tamara Živadinović, Suzana Živković i Ljubica Petković) underwent a training for trainers for designing start-up business plans and were later engaged as trainers-associates on the programme. „Fruits and Berries“ programme of support to private sector development in the field of fruits and berries in South Serbia is realized in Nisava, Toplica, Jablanica, Pcinja and Pirot districts, so Mena Group trainers, in cooperation with other trainers, held 6 four-day trainings in the following municipalities: Nis, Pirot, Bela Palanka, Prokuplje, Babusnica, Razanj. Between September 2011 and March 2012, about 200 participants (fruit producers, processors and collectors) underwent trainings organized and held by Mena Group and associates. They received basic information about the programme and the development of entrepreneurship, and underwent practical and interactive training for designing business plans that helped them develop their idea for enhancing fruit production and processing, as well as market positioning and sale. The participants are encouraged to apply for the open call on subsidies for seedlings and mechanization that represent the second part of this programme that is going to be implemented during next three years.
PBILD Project - Capacity Building for CSOs in Jablanica and Pcinja Districts on Gender Equality and Minority Rights
July 2011
For the last seven months Mena Group, Generator and EMDI have been working in partnership on the PBILD project “Capacity Building for CSOs in Jablanica and Pcinja Districts on Gender Equality and Minority Rights”. The project comprises of two phases: a training of the CSOs representatives on gender equality and minority rights issues, and a grant program. Both phases are seen as a part of an overall training program where participants apply knowledge and methodology experienced during the training in their later grant proposals and implementation. The grant scheme is a flow-on from the Project’s training program, and it is intended that grants are awarded to CSOs whose personnel participated in the training program. The grant scheme intends to strengthen the training outcomes through practical learning through doing.
The training for CSOs from Jablanica and Pcinja districts was delivered during the period between 21st and 24th December 2010. The training was realized through a four-all-day session. The venue of the training were the premises of the CSO “Generator” in Vranje. The training was organized and implemented by the project team, and the workshops were conducted by the Facilitators working on the project: Tamara Živadinović and Suzana Živković, and trainers: Gordana Ristić, Dragana Stjepanović Zaharijevski and Tatjana Obradović - Tošić. During the four days of the training, there were 18 participants from 16 CSOs in total, out of which 11 were women and 7 were men.
From the 16 CSOs that participated in the training 11 applied for the grant and 8 with best projects were chosen by PBILD committee for financing. We are expecting signing the contracts in the coming weeks and implementation of the projects in the following months.
Agricultural Development Strategy of the Municipality of Boljevac 2010-2015 - Unanimously adopted by Municipal Assembly Boljevac
December 2010
The municipality of Boljevac has engaged Mena Group Ltd, a consultancy company from Nis whose principals have several years of experience in strategic planning, to facilitate the process of defining strategic goals and designing a logical plan which will lead to a sustainable environmental-friendly agricultural development and which will simultaneously encourage a faster economic development of the municipality and agricultural producers.
The data in the Agricultural Strategy represent a synthesis of documents which can be found in the agricultural department of the municipality of Boljevac, relevant documents from national level and data collected on the field. This Strategy has as its objective to provide guidelines and contribute to the economic development by creating new employment possibilities and improving the living standards for its citizens.
Municipal Assembly Boljevac unanimously adopted the Strategy on the December 2nd 2010.
It is important to underline that this is the first Agricultural Strategy in Serbia that is gender mainstreamed.
UNDP Project Draws to an End - Books are published
September 2010
As we previously announced the results of the project “Gender based content analysis of educational material in elementary and secondary education in Serbia” are published in two books. One book covers gender based analysis of multiple school subjects in primary and elementary education and the second book deals exclusively with gender based analysis of Civil Education in primary and elementary education.
The books are published only in 300 copies, so the project team with the approval of the UNDP decided to post it for free download. Both books you can find under this web page http://www.gendernet.rs/dokumenti.asp?holder=contact&page=61 (web page of the Network for Gender equality), and you go on Analiza nastavnog materijala za osnovnu i srednju školu.
(http://www.gendernet.rs/admin/files/contact/61/Analiza%20osnovnoskolskog%20obrazovnog%20materijala.pdf)
Enjoy reading!
UNDP Project Draws to an End
July 2010
For the last six months Mena Group and OGI (Committee for Civic Initiative) have been working in partnership on the UNDP project “Gender based content analysis of educational material in elementary and secondary education in Serbia.” The primary task of the project was to conduct a gender based content analysis of educational material in elementary and secondary education in Serbia and to propose recommendations for incorporating principles of gender sensitive education in educational materials in line with the National Strategy for Improving the Position of Women and the Promotion of Gender Equality.
The results of the analyses were presented at the roundtables, which took place in Nis, Novi Sad and Belgrade, after which an open discussion took place among the analysts, faculty members, teachers, publishers, representatives of women’s organizations and other interested parties. Full results of the project will be published in two separate books, the first one covers multiple school subjects in primary and elementary education and the second book deals exclusively with the subject of Civil Education in primary and elementary education. For more information about the project and/or the upcoming publications please contact us by phone or email.
Building an Agro Advisory Support System in Niš
February 2010
Mena Group expert Tamara Živodinović, at the request of LEDIB, is playing a key role in the development of the first Agro Advisory Support System in Niš. The project aims to include all stakeholders in its creation and implementation and will therefore create two entities – an Advisory Association comprised of agricultural producers in the Nišava district and an Advisory Service Company (AgroZem) made up of advisors and experts directed by the needs of the Advisory Association.
Tamara’s involvement encompasses working with and mediating between all the stakeholders including: farmers, advisors, municipalities, LEDIB, and DAAS. Her work with farmers has included gathering interested farmers, informing them about the project, and holding needs assessment workshops in order to form a grass roots agenda for AgroZem. Tamara also held methodology trainings with advisors from AgroZem, as well as workshops where an Advisory Strategy/Program was developed for the next several years. From these activities, Tamara was able to make recommendations to LEDIB and other stakeholders about how to best support the Agro Advisory Project.
It is expected that by establishing an independent and impartial Advisory Service, comprised of highly qualified advisors and experts on modern agricultural production, technologies and management, and whose mission is created based on the needs and ideas expressed by the agricultural producers themselves, economic development in agriculture in Nisava district will flourish
Mena Group Unite Cherry Farmers in Merošina
January 2010
Mena Group, using the ToP Consensus Method, facilitated the development of a Cherry Farmers Cooperative in Merošina. The initiative, funded by DAAS and LEDIB, aims to assist interested fruit producers to understand the advantages and challenges of pooling knowledge and resources to improve their market position.
From August 2009 till January 2010, Mena Group consultants held several workshops for Merošina cherry farmers on cooperative principles, democratic structures, roles/obligations of cooperative members and the differences between associations and cooperatives according to Serbian Law. The workshops, in addition to being informative, also included consensus building using the ToP Consensus Method where participants together define a shared vision through joint brainstorming, analysis, and reflection.
The cooperative, which was officially registered in January 2010, will continue to get ongoing support in the coming months in order to ensure proper implementation of the founding principles.
Research for Rural Development
December 2009
In the coming months, Mena Group will begin collecting and analysing data on the dairy sector. Since LEDIB, a Danish organisation concerned with economic development in the Balkans, has decided to switch its focus from the textile industry to agriculture, raw data is need to gauge the status and the needs of the market. The objective of Mena Group's dairy study is to analyse the dairy chain, from a national and district level in order to understand current trends and the reality of the production cycle. As Serbia draws nearer and nearer to EU candidate status, economic trade alignment is also imperative. This study will allow us to make recommendations to LEDIB on how to improve the diary supply chain in the Nišava District and more specifically how to help farmers produce larger quantities of higher quality milk which meet EU standards. In March LEDIB will be announcing the inauguration of a Nišava District Agricultural Advisory Service. This initiative will be aimed to enhance the economic development in agriculture in the Nišava District. A copy of our report will be made available here in the coming months.
Training for Small Businesses in the Niš District
April 2009
Mena Group has been selected to coordinate and facilitate trainings on the topics of Business Teams and Motivation for small and rural businesses in the Niš District. The trainings are part of a larger initiative supported and funded by LEDIB, a Danish organisation concerned with economic development in the Balkans. Municipalities included in the program are Niš, Aleksinac, Gadžin Han, Svrljig, and Ražanj. In addition to Business Teams and Motivation, the participants with also have trainings on Intro to Sales Techniques, Selling and Marketing
Planting Knowledge at the 2nd Agricultural Fair in Niš
26-28 September 2008
Mena Group experts Tamara Živadinović and Suzana Živković, at the request of the City of Niš, will organize seminars and conducted lectures on farm business management at the 2nd Agricultural Fair in Niš held in Niška Banja the 26th though the 28th of September. While the fair itself focuses on the presentation of the development possibilities and potentials of Niš villages, farmers are also exposed to and have the opportunity to see and buy the newest technical-technology solutions meant to ease and improve supply. The three-day event also provides a good opportunity for all participants to strengthen existing partnerships as well as make new ones. Supporting these fair activities, are several technical lectures and presentations from top experts from the fields of agriculture, cattle, finance, and services. The fair is organized by the City of Niš in cooperation with the Regional Chamber of Commerce, Niš and the Veterinary Institute of Niš. More information about the fair is available at Nisko Selo.
Mena Group Collects Employee Data for Foreign Firm
June 2008
A leading world company in technology for the auto and transport industry is contemplating opening a factory in the Niš area. The company, who wishes to remained unnamed, has hired Mena Group to conduct a preliminary survey of the busniness climate in Niš. Our report will include employee demographics, average and expected salary figures, tax and social security policy in Serbia as well as the current and predicted economic environment.
Mena Group Wins Start Up Grant
Feburary 2008
In the beginning of 2008 Mena Group was awarded third place in the competition for best business plans of female entrepreneurs from the Municipality of Palilula. The project, which started in late 2007, was called “Programme of Support to the Development of Women Entrepreneurship in the Municipality of Palilula” and was implemented and funded by The Centre for Women Entrepreneurship and The Municipality of Palilula.
Over the course of two months participants had ten days of training on business start up and business plan development. At the end each participant was required to submit a complete business plan to be evaluated by the commission. It was this opportunity that sparked the partners of Mena Group to put there heads together to draw up a business strategy and to later register their company in late December 2007 before even knowing the results of the competition.
The top three business plans received grants of 100,000 RSD, 80,000 RSD and 70,000 RSD respectively. The money, which Mena Group has received, will be used to buy a laptop and other technical office equipment needed to support company operations.
Not Exactly New Kids on the Block
25th December 2007
Mena Group experts have a broad experience working in the field with different partners and stakeholders. Even though this is the first year of Mena Group functioning, its founders have been working together as a team for a number of years at the Reka Mleka project.
Mena Group's experts also have experience in organising trainings for different stakeholders (municipalities, farmer groups, and student organisations) and we have been involved in developing special training methodologies for facilitation trainings and trainings for participatory teaching techniques. These methodologies were tested and proven through practice during the Reka Mleka project and in work with Municipal partners in South-East Serbia. The methodologies were developed during the Reka Mleka project, but Mena Group has the approval to promote and to further use them in our work, due to our direct involvement in their development. Mena Group provides consulting and training in following methods: Group Action Planning, Basic Workshop Methods, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Planning, Building Group Consensus, Multi Stakeholder Processes and more.
We have worked on developing different Strategies (e.g. Gender strategy) and are familiar with priorities of having cross cutting issues as a mainstreaming for our work (poverty reduction, gender issues, environmental protection). Mena Group Experts have been engaged in the creation of a M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) system for Reka Mleka project and were trained in this field by Mr Terry Bergdall who has PhD in this field.
