ITC - SME inom ukrainskt jordbruk, fas 2 2021-2025 ITC Agribusiness SMEs Phase 2 2021-2025 - ITC Agribusiness Phase 2 - new financial code (strategy 2023-2027) International Trade Center (ITC) has applied to Sida for funding of SEK 20 003 805 to carry out the "ITC Ukrainian agribusiness SMEs phase 2" in Ukraine during the period 2021-2024. This contribution is a continuation of the contribution 'ITC Ukrainian agribusiness SMEs and value chains' (PLANit 55070084) that is coming to an end in April 2021. 

The goal of the contribution is to support Ukrainian SMEs in the fruits and vegetables sector integrating into domestic and global value chains and accessing new markets by:
- assisting SMEs to produce goods in accordance with market requirements
- improving the capacities of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to provide quality business support services to SMEs, and
- linking SMEs to target markets, with a focus on the EU.

The intervention will be implemented by an ITC project office established in Ukraine with the support of Geneva HQ.

The intervention’s total budget is SEK 20 003 805. There is no other than Sida funding. There is no forwarding of funds in this contribution. International Trade Center (ITC) har ansökt till Sida om ett bidrag på 20 003 805 SEK för att genomföra insatsen "ITC - SME inom ukrainskt jordbruk, fas 2" i Ukraina under perioden 2021-2024. Insatsen är en fortsättning av  "ITC – SME och värdekedjor inom ukrainskt jordbruk " (PLANit 55070084) som avslutas i april 2021. 

Målet med insatsen är att stödja ukrainska små och medelstora företag inom frukt- och grönsaksodlingssektorn att integreras i inhemska och globala värdekedjor och få tillgång till nya marknader genom att: 
- stödja små och medelstora företag att producera varor i enlighet med marknadens krav 
- stärka kapaciteten hos företagsstödorganisationer (BSO) att tillhandahålla kvalitativa tjänster för att utveckla små och medelstora företag, och 
- länka små och medelstora företag till utvalda marknader med fokus på EU. 

Interventionen kommer att genomföras av ett projektkontor som ITC har etablerat i Ukraina, med stöd av huvudkontoret i Genève. 

Insatsens totala budget är 20 003 805 kr. Sida är den enda finansiären. Ingen vidarebefordran av medel är planerad inom insatsen. Impact. The Phase II will contribute to enhanced competitiveness and sustained export growth of the Ukrainian SMEs in the fruits, vegetables, nuts and wine sectors.

Phase II will also contribute to job creation; economic empowerment of women; and minimization of the environmental footprint by introducing principles of sustainable production practices and standards.
The expected outcome of Phase II is enhanced competitiveness and internationalization of SMEs from the selected sectors as well as the enablement of BSOs to provide relevant services to enterprises.

Phase II is also structured around four outputs:

Output 1. Roadmap updated and/or developed for selected value chains.
It is planned to update roadmaps for fruits and vegetables. The roadmap for nuts is currently being developed by the project. The roadmap for the wine sector will be designed using the value chain approach and priorities set in cooperation with relevant stakeholders and producers. 
The expected results of Output 1 will be the number roadmaps/strategies developed/updated and endorsed by stakeholders, as well as the increased capacity of relevant stakeholders and local authorities to understand and set strategic priorities for the development of the sectors concerned.

Output 2. Capacities of SMEs strengthened to improve their international competitiveness.
The project will assist selected SMEs from the selected sectors to reinforce and enlarge their presence in the market and increase exports. The project will enhance SME capacities through awareness building, training, advisory services, and study tours. The scope will include building competencies in growing, harvesting, post-harvesting, packaging, logistics, marketing and sales, branding, CSR, as well as in business planning and management.

Output 3. Capacities of sectoral BSOs strengthened to provide SMEs with relevant business support services. The project will also continue to enhance BSOs capacities, enlarge their service offerings to SMEs and develop operational and managerial performance. The scope of BSOs capacity building will cover supply chain management, quality assurance and certification, trade intelligence, market analysis, and research, sales, export strategy. To ensure sustainability, the project will anchor knowledge sharing platforms within partner BSOs, help them to integrate into international networks, and establish mechanisms for cooperation.

Output 4. Market linkages created for SMEs from fruits, vegetables and nuts sectors to expand their sales domestically and internationally (in particular, with a focus on the EU market). The major focus of the project will be to assist companies to establish market linkages leading to tangible results.