Programme of developing small entrepreneurship

The programme was launched in 1995 in response to the consequences of poverty and poor economic circumstances in those areas affected by the war in Croatia. The programme’s objective was to offer assistance to entrepreneurs in their business ventures and in that way render them capable of employing others.

Caritas Croatia mediated in offering ‘mini loans’ through the use of a guarantee fund to support small businesses. The loans ranged from 5 to 35 thousand DM. The pay back period was 5 years with a year’s grace period.

Other specifities of this programme included:

  • period – the programmes was implemented immediately after the liberation of occupied territories;
  • area – regions directly affected by the war with devastated commercial and residential buildings;
  • target groups – displaced persons, returnees and migrants; 
  • business categories – emphasis placed on women and new starters;
  • method – facilitated procedure to obtain loans with diocesan project coordinators monitoring the programme, the use of loans, offered advice to businessmen and made recommendations to banks;
  • social dimension – selection criteria for business recommended for loans.

In the period from 1995 until 31.12.2004 when the programme was officially ended, a total of 551 business projects were approved loans amounting to a total of 5,928,888 euros (paid out in kuna value) for projects in the field of agriculture, trades or small businesses involved in production or service industries.

Caritas Croatia implemented the programme with the assistance of funding from Deutsche Caritasverband (Caritas Germany) and Caritas Internationalis.