Competitiveness Support Fund

Non-Profit Organization: 11-50 Employees; CSF; Public Relations and Communications industry

Senior Manager Communications

March 2008 – July 2008 ( 5 months)

Consultant

March 2006 – March 2008 (2 years 1 month)

Organization Description:

The Competitiveness Support Fund is a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan and working as an independent body on improving Pakistan’s competitiveness worldwide. CSF is also the country partner institute of the World Economic Forum in Pakistan and strongly engaged in developing knowledge-based enterprise sectors and promoting sustained economic growth in Pakistan. Support for CSF is part of the $1.5 billion in aid that the U.S. Government is providing to Pakistan over five years to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance.

USAID’s CSF was created in March 2006, in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance. It works as a funding mechanism for pilot projects and innovative initiatives emanating from the SWOG strategies as well as other Pakistani industries. USAID has committed nearly $12 million with the Government of Pakistan contributing an additional $12 million. The fund provides technical assistance for economic and sectoral development. It also promotes business incubation and venture capital using GoP funding.

In January 2007, CSF published the first-ever State of Pakistan’s Competitiveness 2007 Report. In addition, it is sponsoring the Stanford International Innovation Journalism Fellowship program through which four journalists enrolled in a four month program in economic and innovation journalism at Stanford University.