SME Revitalization and Employment Pilot Project

closed

Closed

The objective of the Enterprise Revitalization and Employment Pilot Project for Yemen is to improve individual employability of college and university graduates and to improve the business capabilities of enterprises participating in the project. This project has two components. The first component is Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) internship and upgrading program. This component will finance following three sub-components: (i) internship pilot: this sub-component will aim at providing paid internships for an estimated 400 graduates through private enterprises on a cost-sharing basis; (ii) business development matching grants pilot: this program will provide up to 400 firms, depending on uptake, with a matching grant (typically 50 percent of the cost) for the procurement of business development services, training and goods to improve management practices, technology, or products or to reach new markets (domestic or export) as defined in a business development plan submitted by the firm; and (iii) project management. This third sub-component will support Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS) project management for this pilot. It will finance goods, services, travel (including international travel), and incremental operating costs incurred by SMEPS in the implementation and management of the project. The second component involves bank-executed activities, such as impact evaluation, technical assistance, and support. The second component will include the implementation of an impact evaluation and provision of technical assistance to the Government of Yemen to inform policies and programs on SME development and employment based on the outcomes and demonstrated effect of the pilot. The component will finance the costs of the impact evaluation and technical assistance provided to government entities and SMEPS, particularly on monitoring and evaluation.

FY17 - Industry, Trade and Services

World Bank Group

Project

Government, Education