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USAID Funded LIM Program Provides Technical Assistance to Leading Lebanese Microfinance Institutes

December 3, 2009, Lebanon

Mr. Handley (Center back) and LIM Chief of Party, Mr. ElZein (center front) with representatives of cooperatives and AlMajmoua Agricultural Engineer (far right)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.
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VEGA Reaches Farmers in Afghanistan through the Alfalfa Seed Voucher Program

November 2009

Afghanistan Alfalfa Seed Voucher RecipientUnder 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 Awards VEGA 1.9 Million to Support Economic Growth in Sri Lanka

September 2009

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.

VEGA Welcomes New Member: SAVE Travel Alliance

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Other News
August 2009
SAVE LogoThe 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 Press Release on VEGA Microfinance Program in Lebanon

July 2009

Lebanon Investment in Microfinance Program - Launch Event Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Click here to read the press release
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Aid to Artisans Joins VEGA

 July 2009

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.

 

Artisan weaving in IndiaAid 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.

Citizens Development Corps is now CDC Development Solutions

July 2009

CDC Development Solutions Logo

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. 

 

VEGA Long Term Business Advisers Complement Jordanian Government Efforts to Develop the Local Tourism Industry

Laura Hagg, Business Adviser in JordanTourism 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.

VEGA Long Term Business Advisers are supporting organizations in Jordan which advance the  tourism strategy, such as the Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA)

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.

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USAID Invests Funding in Business Advisers to Enhance Programs in Kazakhstan

 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.