African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA+) Program in Ethiopia
IESC is the sole implementing organization for the $3.4 million USAID-funded Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA+) program, an export promotion program under the broader AGOA trade initiative. The focus of IESC’s efforts is to facilitate trade-led job creation in Ethiopia under AGOA in partnership with the private sector, civil society organizations and the Government of Ethiopia. IESC is making an impact through creating and strengthening business linkages between Ethiopian businesses and the Diaspora community in the U.S.; increasing Ethiopian exports to the United States by holding and participating in a series of trade and reverse trade missions for products with a competitive advantage; establishing and providing assistance to the American Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia; and facilitating investment in Ethiopia by Ethiopian Diaspora.
Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development (ASMED) Project
IESC is a subcontractor on the Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development (ASMED) Project funded by USAID to combat key impediments and non-governmental constraints to private sector growth. The project provides technical and financial support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the organizations that support them throughout Afghanistan in order to improve the quantity and quality of market information; support business association development; establish private-public investment partnerships; build the capacity of future business leaders through professional internships; and develop the business development service sector. Through long term staff and short-term industry expert volunteers and consultants, IESC conducts market analyses of promising industry sectors; increases capacity of and empowers Afghan SMEs to access markets; and builds the capacity of business support organizations and education institutions. IESC has been instrumental in advancing Afghanistan’s marble sector, improving operations, creating market linkages and promoting the Afghan brand in the international arena.
Facilitating Economic Growth in Sri Lanka
IESC is the lead implementer of the USAID funded Facilitating Economic Growth Program in Sri Lanka. The program contributes to the economic revitalization of conflict-affected, -strategic areas through the provision of technical services that support USAID’s economic growth objectives, as well as the other current USAID projects operating in Sri Lanka. The IESC-led team provides direct, targeted assistance to enterprises, agribusinesses, and related associations, NGOs, and their workforces to increase business opportunities and private sector employment. IESC is managing multiple sub-awards with the other members of the implementing team and leading the program’s work in SME related technical assistance, workforce development, access to finance.