SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH & LIVELIHOODS

 

Sustainable and inclusive economic growth is integral to Agriteam’s approach to poverty reduction. We have worked at the macro-level, with national governments to create and implement development policy and plans for job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation; at the meso-level with business support organizations and service providers to improve access and their capacity to serve all citizens; and at the micro-level assisting and promoting the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprizes (MSMEs), while being environmentally and socially responsible.

 

OUR EXPERTISE INCLUDES:

  • Business development services (feasibility studies, development plans and promotion) for MSMEs and representative or intermediary organizations
  • MMW4P approaches, clustering and value chains, business linkages
  • Market information systems
  • Trade policy, facilitation and promotion
  • Public-private sector partnerships
  • Women’s economic empowerment
  • Youth employment and entrepreneurship
  • Planning and implementation of inclusive employment policies and programs
  • Inclusive financial services and markets

Agriteam helps governments, businesses and communities to improve their economic opportunities and promote inclusive economic rights and access to decent work.

OUR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH & LIVELIHOODS PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

UKRAINE: Expert Deployment for Governance and Economic Growth (EDGE) (Global Affairs Canada, 2014-2019)

The Expert Deployment for Governance and Economic Growth (EDGE) project is helping Ukraine move towards a democratic and prosperous society by advancing citizen-centered democracy and promoting sustainable economic growth. Working side-by-side at the highest levels, EDGE responds to critical needs of the Ukrainian government in planning, implementing and communicating reforms. EDGE supports reforms across a broad range of governance sectors (anti-corruption, deregulation, decentralization, probation) as well as strategic areas within the economic growth sphere (foreign direct investment, exports, agriculture, ports reform, etc.). Agriteam is responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of EDGE. Agriteam deploys technical experts directly within the Project’s partner Ministries (e.g., National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine; National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption; Ministry of Economic Development and Trade; Ministry of Finance; and Ministry of Justice), embedding them to work hand-in-hand with leadership and the bureaucracy as they manage their respective priority reforms. To date, the Project has worked on reforms in over 20 sectors and is currently involved in 14 TA reform initiatives including: decentralization, public administration reform, transparency and anti-corruption, justice, economic growth and investment. Within each of these reforms, EDGE promotes accountability, good governance, transparency and integrity.

WEST BANK & GAZA: Business-to-Business Trade Mission to Canada (PalTrade B2B) (Global Affairs Canada, 2014)

In partnership with the Government of Canada, Agriteam promoted increased private sector trade and greater economic ties between Canadian and Palestinian companies by organizing and implementing a four-day, business-to-business mission to Canada in June 2014. The mission brought together 14 Palestinian information and communications technology (ICT), agri-business and tourism companies to meet with their counterparts in Canada to discuss trade, investment and licensing opportunities. Agriteam worked with PalTrade, a national export promotion NGO with over 200 member organizations, to deliver business, planning and logistics services for the mission, including conducting pre-travel assessments and briefings, and identifying appropriate matches from Canadian counterparts. More than 70 meetings occurred between Palestinian and Canadian businesses, including participation in the Canada Arab Chamber of Commerce (CanACC) Business and Cultural Conference. All Palestinian businesses reported increased knowledge and capacity to work with Canadian businesses, and a desire to conduct future business with the Canadian firms. The mission netted a number of highly successful business linkages that continue today.

BRUNEI: Preparation of a Master Plan for Development of a Food Development Center (Government of Brunei Darussalam, 2012-2014)

Agriteam was contracted by the Government of Brunei to lead the development of an Agrifood Innovation Center, including the planning, preparation of recommendations for activities, facilities, equipment and process mapping, human resources development, opportunities for international collaboration, study tours, environmental assessment and project appraisal, and preparation of inventory of materials and documentation.

CANADA: Understanding Sustainable Northern Greenhouse Technologies, Canada, (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 2012-2013)

Agriteam conducted a study to provide a comprehensive picture of the commercial, technical and social feasibility of developing greenhouses in northern communities with limited populations and extremely high food costs.  Based on a review of technologies, demand, human resources and economics, Agriteam identified the most appropriate technologies and practices for northern greenhouse production. The report included extensive market analysis, and modelling of various greenhouse technologies and scales of development that would fit within different sized markets and northern communities, including a cost/benefit analysis and identification of greenhouse funding proposals most likely to be successful. This foundational study was used in the development of a $20 million northern greenhouse development program by AAFC.

VIETNAM: Tra Vinh Improved Livelihoods Project (Global Affairs Canada, 2005-2009)

The Tra Vinh Improved Livelihoods Project (TVILP) focused on improving rural economic development and poverty reduction in Tra Vinh province through increased private sector investment and development of key rural economic sub-sectors including pork, beef, aquaculture, rice, tourism and natural fibre products. Agriteam specialists designed the overall framework for rural development by adopting a value chain approach based on USAID’s standardized value chain development methodology. Key sub-sectors with the highest growth potential were identified and sub-sector analyses were completed by Agriteam specialists, who then worked with local government departments to implement the value chain development plans. TVILP built the capacity of farmers, processors, wholesalers and input suppliers in crop diversification, the intensification of agriculture and the development of rural enterprise, leading to increased income earning opportunities both on and off the farm, and contributing to the Government of Vietnam’s Comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy.

PHILIPPINES: Private Enterprise Accelerated Resources Linkages, Phase 2 (PEARL 2) (Global Affairs Canada, 2004-2010)

PEARL2 contributed to poverty reduction and job creation in the Philippines by working with over 50 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to assist in the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Designed to support the Government of the Philippines’ National Small and Medium Enterprise Development Plan, PEARL2 delivered support through three channels: delivering business support services in areas such as business strategy, productivity, marketing, exporting, management and sustainability; providing a responsive funding mechanism ($1.3M) to business and industry associations, research and academic institutions and government agencies to support sub-projects in SME growth and development; and working with the Board of Investments and local investment promotion groups to enhance regional investments. As a result, partners enhanced their skills, numerous operations, training, and instruction manuals and advocacy studies on SME development were developed and utilized, and SME competitiveness was increased, leading to strengthened markets, to job creation and an improved climate for business investment.

INDIA: Private Sector Development Project (Global Affairs Canada, 1997-2002)

The Private Sector Development Project worked nationwide in India, addressing public sector bottlenecks to private sector development in the areas of electric power, oil and gas, telecommunications, and financial services. As manager of the initiative, Agriteam supported the delivery of 33 short-term sub-projects by soliciting proposals for the sub-projects from Indian public and private sector organizations, providing technical assistance, monitoring the successful implementation of the sub-projects, and by facilitating collaboration between Canadian and Indian public and private sector partners. Sub-projects ranged from small-scale microenterprise support, such as the provision of mobile phones and housing loans to rural women entrepreneurs, to large-scale policy reform and business training, such as the development of a training workshop on raising foreign capital with TransCanada Pipelines, Bank of Montreal, and the Indian Oil & Gas Crown Corp.

Key success factors of the project were the establishment of a coordinating agency to ensure proposed initiatives were implemented, and the pairing of Canadian and Indian companies to generate action plans and build the capacity of participants, leading to strengthened commercial linkages between the two countries. Overall results included an increased capacity of the private sector to operate in key industries and financial markets in the Indian economy, and a stronger national government with improved policy, capacity, and commitment to engaging with the private sector.

CHINA: Heilongjiang Agricultural Development Project (World Bank, 1998-2001)

Agriteam was contracted by Heilongjiang Province to provide training services in support of the World Bank-funded US$240 million Heilongjiang Agricultural Development Project. We identified training needs, developed training objectives, formulated detailed programs, and recruited Canadian specialists, training institutions and commercial businesses to provide necessary expertise to implement the programs. We managed a government-private sector partnership and developed working linkages with one agricultural college and four agribusinesses interested in developing commercial activities in northern China.