THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT FOR CIF

An additional 3.5 million euros to support dual education

Branko Azeski, Acting President of the Chamber Investment Forum (CIF) of the six Western Balkan countries, received a notification through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (South-eastern Europe Department) that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is supporting the Regional Challenge Fund with an additional 3.5 million euros and has commissioned the German Development Bank (KfW) to implement the activity, which will be finalized with the conclusion of a financing agreement.

The Government of the FR Germany, as our long-standing partner, has so far supported the Fund through four open regional calls, for which the Fund has allocated a total of 83.4 million euros to support 126 projects in the region over the past five years.

First call – 14.38 million euros in grants awarded to 37 consortia
Second call – 12.2 million euros in grants awarded to 27 consortia
Third call – 7.29 million euros in grants awarded to 16 consortia
Fourth call – 12.6 million euros in grants awarded to 38 consortia

The process of creation and implementation up to the full finalization of such a project is an initiative of the Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkan countries, which places the Chambers at the centre of developments. The Chambers played a crucial role in the process of vocational education, because work-based learning represents an agreement and trust between: employers – who define current and future workforce needs, chambers – which must find a way to meet the employers’ needs, and educational institutions – to train high-quality and professional personnel.

The Regional Challenge Fund was established on the initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ), funded by the German Development Bank (KfW), and is implemented by the Western Balkans Chamber Investment Forum as the main implementation partner.

The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) aims to increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the Western Balkans 6 by funding investments in equipment and infrastructure for dual and vocational education projects developed in partnership between vocational education institutions and enterprises. The grants are awarded through a competitive regional challenge.