To compete in the global market, Serbian firms must be able to deliver a unique or higher-quality product more efficiently than their competitors. This firm-level competitiveness can only be achieved through reforms that build all levels of the value chain, including suppliers, producers, processors, and buyers, as well as support services and enabling environments.
Building on previous investments, successes, and lessons learned from initiatives implemented by USAID and other donors in Serbia, USAID’s Competitiveness Systems Strengthening Activity (CSS Project), implemented by DT Global legacy Cardno International Development, strengthened Serbia’s fruits and vegetables sector, using growth of sales as the key benchmark for evaluating performance.
CSS utilized a market systems development approach to strengthen the competitiveness of Serbia’s food and vegetable sector. The Project enabled and facilitated local actors to develop and implement solutions to addresses systemic challenges to growth and competitiveness. CSS focused its support on value chains and products with the highest potential competitiveness in international markets.
Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting was a fundamental component of CSS’s approach. The Project team closely monitored the progress of activities, mitigated risks, and adjusted implementation methodologies and priorities as needed.
