D4SME — Evidence-Based SME Development Program:
from community data to council decision
CSDF's methodology and toolkit for local self-governments that want an SME support program built on local objective data, not templated assumptions.
What it is about
Ukraine has recommendations on what an SME development program should look like and who approves it. There is no methodology on where to get its content specifically for your community and how to prove to the council that this content is correct. D4SME fills this gap.
The methodology forms a program from four layers of objective community data and cross-cutting participation: proposals from residents, local businesses, youth, veterans, and IDPs, embedded in the community strategy. Four analysis axes match strategy goals with activities, programs, and budget, and competitive advantages with EU single market requirements. The output is three scenarios, three models by competitive advantage, and a session argument: what percentage of education, healthcare, and social protection expenditures are covered by SME revenues.
The methodology closes five gaps in existing approaches:
Four layers of community data
- 1Strategic planning datastrategy, action plan, indicators, list of programs, regional and state framework, EU clusters
- 2Financial databudget, single tax and personal income tax, expenditures on education, healthcare, social protection
- 3Economic base and competitive advantagesSME entities, industries, employment, industrial parks, logistics, SWOT
- 4Institutional and legal datacurrent SME program, regulatory acts, departments, fund, business council
Cross-cutting — public proposals according to CSDF methodological recommendations for public involvement in strategic planning (2025).
What will be on this page
Methodological recommendations and toolkit
Formation of an SME development program based on objective data and participation — full text of the methodology (PDF).
Model program and forms
Typical text of the program for a draft council decision, community readiness checklist, business readiness checklist for European integration and responsible business conduct, fact card, event technical card, SME revenue accounting form, catalog of state support tools.
Dashboard and online checklists
LSG self-assessment, enterprise self-assessment, scenario dashboard, human capital chain calculator.
Already available
The methodology was tested in five communities of Odesa region in 2026 in the project "European Path of Ukrainian Communities: Through Cohesion to Inclusive Recovery and Sustainable Development".
SME development in five communities of Odesa region
Comparison of communities by strategic documents, SME programs, human capital chain, and scenarios.
Open dashboardEconomic contribution of IDPs to community development
Calculation of PIT revenues and consumer effect from IDP integration, calculator for your community.
Open dashboardAnalytical briefs, consolidated report, and presentation
Five briefs by communities, consolidated analytical report "Development of small and medium enterprises in five communities of Odesa region: compliance of strategies with EU standards and development scenarios", project presentation.
Project folder (Google Drive)Get notified about the methodology release
Leave a contact — we will send a link as soon as the methodology and toolkit are published.
For whom
- Community heads and deputy commissions on economy and budget;
- LSG economic development and investment departments;
- Business councils, local development agencies, entrepreneurship support funds;
- Consultants on strategic planning and local economic development.
