Long-Term Business Advisors Program

Prime Implementing Organization:
Institute for International Education

In October of 2005, VEGA member organization, The Institute for International Education (IIE),through its Emerging Market Development Advisers Program (EMDAP), implemented the Long-Term Business Advisors Program in Ecuador to develop and enhance the competitiveness of Ecuador’s private sector with the ultimate goal of promoting growth of the nation's economy.

Leveraging the business management knowledge and technical expertise of recent graduate students, VEGA identified two highly qualified volunteer experts to assist USAID’s Office of Microenterprise Development (MD) as a Marketing Adviser to the World Council of Credit Unions. In this position, the volunteer provided assistance to Ecuadorian credit unions in an effort to achieve an enhanced level of microfinance services. The program came to a close in August of 2006.

LTBA Ecuador Program Achievements

• Increased interest and number of participants in RedCoop network (and now COONECTA)
• Created a manual for COONECTA (Association of Credit Unions)
• Created of a communal marketing plan
• Initiated a ghost client system and ranking
• Increased the number of transactions both in remittances and shared branching
• Trained Credit Union staff about the functions and benefits of the shared branches
• Prepared of the feasibility study about the credit and debit cards service in the Credit Unions in Ecuador
• Developed improvement programs such as employee incentive programs
• Performed 2 promotional trips to USA to promote the Ecuadorian utilization of remittance services.
• USD remittances sent increased from $1.68 million to $2.59 million between February and December 2006.

Advisor Assignments

2005
Jill Zabloski, Institutional Development and Marketing Advisor with WOCCU in Quito, Ecuador

2006
Meghan Novack, Institutional Development and Marketing Advisor with WOCCU in Quito, Ecuador

Advisor Testimonials

“The improvements that have been made to the structure and contractual agreements are also tangible. All the credit unions that were in Redcoop have purchased shares in the new company, COONECTA.”

-Meghan Novack
Institutional Development and Marketing Advisor with WOCCU in Quito, Ecuador

Further Information
Longterm Business Advisers Program Brochure- pdf»

Related links:
USAID Country Page
LTBA/EMDAP
WOCCU
COONECTA