Partner provides finance services to economically active populations who have difficult or no access to commercial funding sources, for start up and development of business and improvement of living quality.
We support micro entrepreneurs, promote participation of women in business and offer easier access to finance-services in rural areas.
Within the entire B&H, with door to door service, we provide good quality products and technical support, help the increase of living standard and increase employment by stimulating the transition to market economy.
The following goals will enable Partner to achieve its vision and mission in the planned period of five years:
During the 19 years of its work, Partner has developed different skills and expertise among its employees. Therefore, the key success factors are the following:
Partner continuously educates its staff in order to provide high quality services for clients, as well as technical assistance, as a value-added service. Partner employs technical assistants in order to assist people in starting agricultural businesses and also provides assistance regarding energy efficiency issues through the project "Solar Energy, as the Future of Sustainable Development".
In the following period, Partner will maintain the existing target population, including economically active micro entrepreneurs and households with difficult or no access to the commercial banks. Beside business start up loans or loans for spreading of businesses, Partner intends to continue to offer the clients loans for use of alternative energy sources and household energy efficiency improvement. This decision is based on the fact that micro enterprises in BiH use outdated or used equipment, while families mainly live in houses or apartments without appropriate insulation of heating/cooling system (over 80% of buildings in BiH [1]). The majority of used energy in households goes for heating and lights.
The level of energy consumption indicates the living standard, so it may be used as the indicator that some BiH citizens live below the poverty line. Low income populations use less energy than what is needed to meet their basic needs. The usage of wood for heating is very common in BiH, particularly in poor households. Energy used by households and the commercial sector is used (mostly) for heating (heating and the treatment of water and cooking), lights as well as electrical appliances and equipment[2].
[1] Source: http://www.energetska-efikasnost.ba/Publikacije/Vodic%20za%20energetski%...
[2]Strategic plan and programme for development of energy sector of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of energy, mining and industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and expert group, 2008.