The goal of the BEI Grant Program in Central Asia is to assist businesses, professional associations, non-governmental organizations and other private sector entities to implement unique, innovative and worthwhile projects and undertake initiatives to improve the business environment, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Central Asia. The BEI Grant Program is designed to contribute to the development of better SME policies, deregulation at the local, national and regional level, improved public-private dialogue and proper implementation of laws and regulations, thus leading to an improved business environment for SMEs. Grants will be used to support BEI activities by providing resources to build local technical capacity among select business associations and other stakeholders representing the private sector and to create mechanisms to improve advocacy efforts and information dissemination. Grants further will serve as a platform for improved business conditions and best practices and will directly support the programmatic goals of BEI and supplement its internal technical resources.

Grants will be considered in one of two broad categories – Advocacy and Association Operations Development. These are consistent with the overall goals and activities of the BEI project and should help focus potential applicants. While it is expected that most grants will fit these two categories, expressions of interest may be considered for any grant project that can demonstrate a real benefit to the business environment consistent with BEI goals and objectives.