Altus Befektetési Zrt.

Your Partners in Development 

ConsALT – a part of the Hungarian ALTUS Group – is your specialist adviser in development.  

Focusing on governments, municipalities, companies and non-governmental organisations, we are offering a unique blend of expertise, and a complete range of services from multiannual strategic planning down to the management of individual projects, from public administration reform to individual investments. All of this with special, inside knowledge on EU funding sources – that is seldom found elsewhere. 

In all countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the order of the day is catching-up with the “old member states” of the European Union. The process has started two decades ago, and will continue for a long time. In the meantime, the development gaps between the different regions must be reduced. A fair chance of succeeding must be provided to all citizens.  

In order to do that, governments must implement profound structural reforms. Municipalities must prepare their communities for a Europe without borders, and an increasingly global economy. Private companies must invest into their future to keep up with the changes accelerated by the current crisis. And NGOs must find their place in a rapidly changing society.  

For all of them, the European Union is offering a helping hand. But not everyone will be able to reach it. ConsALT is the partner making sure: you will.  

ConsALT’s experts are people who have extensive international experience on what and how can be financed with the help of the EU. They were key players in the success story that Hungary has written by becoming one of the states were EU structural funding is used to the best effect. 

But ConsALT also relies on more than a decade of ALTUS expertise in facilitating private investment projects. From the identification of locations, mapping out local legislation, funding opportunities, to getting you into business with the local administration. 
 

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANCY from the very top to the expert level 

ConsALT was founded by people with senior-level government experience – both in policy making, and in public management. Coming from a country that has recently completed the transition to a free market economy and an EU member state, they are not only familiar with the tasks related to integration, but also the challenges and problems that come with it. They are speaking not from textbooks, but personal experience. 

ConsALT knows, how government works, what citizens expect, and how the two can be brought together. As former top-level government officials, ConsALT’s people have the wider perspective on EU policies, and public administration reform. They will understand your policy goals, and help you steer a steady course. 

When it comes to using EU support, the government’s job entails careful strategic planning, a major institution building effort, and then, a constant search for improving administration, reducing bureaucracy, without the risk of facilitating corruption. Here, too, the devil is in the details. We will tell you, where. And we will help you understand the lessons to be drawn from your experience, monitoring and evaluating performance, and defining actions to get better value for your funds, and, ultimately, reach your policy goals.  
 

Regions and Municipalities 

Modern European states have several levels of government that are all important players in development. Whatever the balance of power between the capital and countryside, a major part of EU funding available to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will be spent, everywhere, by regions and municipalities.  

For this, just like the government itself, they have to devise their strategies, clearly define their objectives, and set up concrete development projects. Not every region on municipality will be able to do this. And those, who lose time, will also lose money. Quite a lot of it. Ultimately, Europe’s future poor regions and municipalities are those, who cannot make good use of EU funding. Who have no strategy, no projects, or no management capacity. 

ConsALT will help regional and municipal authorities to define a long-term strategy that is worth investing in. Development plans that will focus public investments, including EU funds, to where it makes the biggest difference. And to prepare and manage projects that are credible enough to win government and EU support. Investments that are efficient enough to make best use of the funding available. To develop a region, or a city, that is attractive enough to win over private investors. A place where you would want to live in. 

More importantly, ConsALT can help you build your own development capacity. Structures and experts to do it on your own. Because, catching-up takes time, and development is a never ending task. 
 

Private sector – enterprises and non-governmental organisations 

For enterprises and civil society, development projects are above all a question of finance. Most companies in Central and Eastern Europe, above all small and medium-size enterprises are short of capital, therefore, whatever they want to do, they are many times unable to come up with the money themselves. Bank credits can be expensive, and they are tied to heavy conditions. At the same time, enterprises are in a fierce competition, so they must develop.  

The same is true for non-governmental organisations. They are short of cash, in most cases, they can only stay alive if they can invent and implement projects that are considered useful by those who can finance them. Including the government. 

Therefore, enterprises and NGOs alike, must be able to make use of European Union support.  

They have a good chance to do that, but only through competition. There ideas, business instincts and creativity must be turned into fundable projects, that the government – and the European Union – will consider worthwhile to invest in. Public support for an SME or an NGO is no gift. It is, indeed, an investment. An investment by the government, by the community, into something that carries social value. Something that creates jobs, diversifies and strengthens the national economy. Or takes care of people and issues otherwise left out, or left alone.  

ConsALT knows, what is important in a project application. What makes it viable, and what makes it viable, and attractive to the public authority that ultimately makes the decision. At least as importantly, ConsALT also knows what kills a project – what are the mistakes that must be avoided. Again, this is the sort of knowledge that is not available from textbooks, only from experience. 
 

For all those reasons, ConsALT is your ideal partner in development. Experienced, with a broad perspective for strategy, and the necessary attention to the details we will help you think, plan, decide, and implement. Our advice will make the difference, that helps you gain the advantage the decisive advantage, and help you make it happen.