IESC Awarded $105 Million SME Program in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C. ‘ IESC is pleased to announce that it was awarded the $105 million Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises (ABADE) Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA).
ABADE is a four year program that will create jobs, encourage investment, and support the sustainable development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout Afghanistan through: (1) Public-Private Alliances (PPAs) to Afghan SMEs and business support organizations, (2) technical assistance to ensure the success of the PPAs and (3) targeted enabling environment support to remove administrative barriers to business success. Particular emphasis will be placed on alliances that foster business innovation, expand the role of women in business, promote pro-poor growth, and increase value-added productivity in strategic industries.
IESC is the lead implementer of the ABADE program, joined by Land O’Lakes International Development and Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). ABADE will have offices in Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.
