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), implemented the Long-Term Business Advisors Program in Guyana through its Emerging Market Development Advisers Program (EMDAP) to develop and enhance the competitiveness of Guyana’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 a highly qualified volunteer expert to assist USAID’s Office of Microenterprise Development (MD) as a Marketing and Business Development Adviser to Conservation International. In this position, the volunteer worked to foster conservation, build entrepreneurial skills and develop organizations in Guyana.

The program came to a close in August of 2007.

LTBA Guyana Program Achievements

• Contributed to Conservation International Guyana’s (CIG) work in establishing a national system of protected areas in Guyana, which includes developing natural resource management plans.
• Established productive partnerships with the aim of securing a long-term source of business training and advice for CIG and its partner communities such as the Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED), the only large business service provider in Guyana, and other environmental NGOs in the country such as Iwokrama and the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.
• Contributed to a Progress Note to SEEP on Value Chain Development and the Poor.
• Capacity building: Conducted training in entrepreneurship, costing, accounting, marketing, business management, technical modules on handicrafts, tourism and animal husbandry.
• Grant-making policies: Revised criteria for the Voluntary Community Investment Fund (VCIF) projects
• M&E and data collection: Developed measures to monitor socio-economic factors.

Program Testimonials

Several USAID Mission staff had never visited Lethem, Guyana and were fascinated to hear that USAID is making an impact in a remote location through the work of an EMDAP Adviser, Dianna Darsney, who was an Income Generation Specialist with Conservation International in Lethem. Dianna’s work has been recognized as seminal to the development of Lethem, and she has been offered a project with CI in Guyana to continue her work.

Further Information

Longterm Business Advisers Program Brochure- pdf»

Related Links:
USAID Country Page
EMDAP
Conservation International Guyana
Institute for Private Enterprise Development