The
Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Lebanon Investment in
Microfinance (LIM) Program, implemented by the International Executive
Service Corps (IESC), provided technical assistance to three Lebanese
microfinance institutes through the services of Mr. Hal Handley, an
IESC international agribusiness expert. With over 45 years of
experience, Mr. Handley provided tailored assistance to program
partners and leading micro-finance institutes (MFI) ADR, AlMajmoua, and
Ameen. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
funded the LIM program to increase access to finance in rural
communities in order to sustain and expand existing businesses,
increase sales revenues, encourage entrepreneurship, launch new
businesses, and create new jobs. The LIM program partnered with three
leading MFIs to provide loans to micro and small businesses operating
in rural and peri-urban communities across Lebanon. In its first
quarter, the LIM program loaned over $275,598 to 145 agribusinesses and
helped sustain and create over 264 full time and 90 seasonal jobs.
Under
the Community Development Agriculture Program in Paktia, Paktika,
Khost, and Southeast Ghazni (CDA-P2K) project, VEGA, through its
implementing partner ACDI/VOCA, successfully implemented the Alfalfa
Seed Voucher Program in the complex region of central southeast
Afghanistan.
To establish connections and build the capacity of local agricultural
retailers, ACDI/VOCA conducted the voucher program through 12
project-established Farm Stores, located throughout the P2K region.
The project distributed 1,000 vouchers to each of the 12 Farm Stores
that farmer beneficiaries could exchange for a seven kilogram bag of
alfalfa seed to plant one jerib, about half an acre, of land. Dependent
upon the area and growing season, each farmer is expected to have a
minimum of two cuttings. This will result in 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms
of alfalfa per farmer for a total of approximately 24,000 to 36,000
tons of alfalfa to be produced in the first year.
USAID recently awarded VEGA $1.9 million to support USAID’s ongoing economic growth activities in Sri Lanka. This award funds a new program entitled Facilitating Growth in Sri Lanka. The program aims to address the disparity in economic development between conflict-affected and strategic districts in the East and the rest of the country. The prime implementer, International Executive Service Corps (IESC) will lead a team of VEGA member organizations which consists of ACDI/VOCA, ICMA International, Land O’Lakes and Financial Services Volunteers Corps.
The Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance welcomes its newest member, SAVE Travel Alliance (SAVE), an organization whose vision is "Connecting People to Places to do Good," linked to the global movement linking volunteerism with tourism. SAVE is an acronym for Scientific, Academic, Volunteer and Education Travel. The SAVE Travel Alliance management and operational activities are conducted on behalf of its founding members: George Washington University, National Geographic Society, Counterpart International and the Honduras Institute of Tourism.
The organization's focus is on implementing projects which connect volunteer sending and volunteer receiving organizations in order to further tourism's role in the international development sector as an effective tool to contribute to poverty alleviation and other aspects of the Millennium Development Goals. SAVE develops international volunteer programs that focus on tourism planning, policy and development at the destination level and capacity building at the firm level.
USAID recently highlighted
the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) and our lead
implementing member, International Executive Service Corp a a grant
recipient in the Lebanon Investment in Microfinance Program.
The Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance prides itself on its
diverse group of members and wide range of capabilities in implementing
broad-based economic growth programs. VEGA recently welcomed its newest
member, Aid to Artisans, the recognized leader in the field of economic
development for the craft sector. Aid to Artisan's specific expertise
in the craft sector adds yet another valuable skill set to the alliance.
Aid
to Artisans (ATA) is an international non-profit organization that
creates opportunities for low-income artisans around the world to build
profitable businesses inspired by handmade traditions. Their programs
offer producers access to new markets, business training, eco-effective
processes and design innovation to promote sustainable growth and
community well-being. Through its unique marketing and training
approaches, ATA creates self-sustaining, profitable business that
thrive after receiving mentoring from ATA.
As VEGA Member Organization, Citizens Development Corps moves toward twenty years providing innovative and market-driven solutions to clients worldwide, the organization has changed its name to CDC Development Solutions. In the past six months, the staff took stock of clients, programs, and achievements, and made a number of important strategic decisions to take the organization into its third decade and beyond.
The leadership decided on CDC Development Solutions (CDS) as the new name because it keeps the focus on development and also captures the results-oriented nature of its programs. They have kept "CDC" in their name in recognition of the successful programs that have been implemented in more than fifty countries on five continents over the past twenty years.
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Jordan and is the largest contributor to GDP and tax revenue. Jordan’s tourism industry leaders recognized its potential power to positively influence the country’s economic welfare and partnered with the government to develop a tourism strategy.
In September of 2008 VEGA deployed a Business Development Officer to support JITOA’s management. Laura Hagg, who holds an MA in both Public Administration and International Policy and Practice, was selected by VEGA member organization IIE’s Emerging Markets Development Advisers Program.
December 2008
In 2007, USAID/Central Asia Region (CAR) requested a VEGA Long Term Business Adviser to provide assistance to the American Chamber of Commerce in support of their Public-Private Economic Partnership Initiative (PPEPI).
Implementing organization, IIE chose Sanjay Srikantiah, a graduate of SAIS and a former Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan for the Public-Private Economic Partnership Specialist. PPEPI further improves Kazakhstan’s business environment and increases the country’s competitiveness through facilitating greater public-private dialogue on such issues as tax, anti-corruption, technology exchange, and WTO accession.
The
Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Lebanon Investment in
Microfinance (LIM) Program, implemented by the International Executive
Service Corps (IESC), provided technical assistance to three Lebanese
microfinance institutes through the services of Mr. Hal Handley, an
IESC international agribusiness expert. With over 45 years of
experience, Mr. Handley provided tailored assistance to program
partners and leading micro-finance institutes (MFI) ADR, AlMajmoua, and
Ameen. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
funded the LIM program to increase access to finance in rural
communities in order to sustain and expand existing businesses,
increase sales revenues, encourage entrepreneurship, launch new
businesses, and create new jobs. The LIM program partnered with three
leading MFIs to provide loans to micro and small businesses operating
in rural and peri-urban communities across Lebanon. In its first
quarter, the LIM program loaned over $275,598 to 145 agribusinesses and
helped sustain and create over 264 full time and 90 seasonal jobs.
Under
the Community Development Agriculture Program in Paktia, Paktika,
Khost, and Southeast Ghazni (CDA-P2K) project, VEGA, through its
implementing partner ACDI/VOCA, successfully implemented the Alfalfa
Seed Voucher Program in the complex region of central southeast
Afghanistan.
The Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance welcomes its newest member, 
Aid
to Artisans (ATA) is an international non-profit organization that
creates opportunities for low-income artisans around the world to build
profitable businesses inspired by handmade traditions. Their programs
offer producers access to new markets, business training, eco-effective
processes and design innovation to promote sustainable growth and
community well-being. Through its unique marketing and training
approaches, ATA creates self-sustaining, profitable business that
thrive after receiving mentoring from ATA.
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Jordan and is the largest contributor to GDP and tax revenue. Jordan’s tourism industry leaders recognized its potential power to positively influence the country’s economic welfare and partnered with the government to develop a tourism strategy.
