Working under contract to the
U.S. Agency for Inter-national Development and other foreign aid donors,
Chemonics designs and implements development projects in many of the world’s
developing coun-tries. Integrating a range of consulting capabilities, we offer
solutions in financial services, private sector development, health,
envi-ronmental management, gender, crisis prevention and recovery, democracy and
governance, and agri-culture. Through our work, we promote meaningful change by
helping people live healthier, more pro-ductive, and more indepen-dent lives.
Afghanistan Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program,
2006-2011 U.S. Agency for International Development
Chemonics works to revitalize Afghanistan’s agriculture sector and to improve global competitiveness of the country’s agribusiness sector. ASAP is a nationwide program providing strategic support to Afghanistan’s public and private sectors with the overarching goals of improving agriculture production, increasing sales of agriculture products, creating new jobs, and introducing modern agriculture technologies and practices. To achieve this objective, ASAP focuses on accelerating sales of high-value commodities and improving the capacity of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock to formulate policies and carry out administrative and financial coordination needed for more competitive, market-led agriculture production, and agribusiness. As a way to share knowledge and integrate geographically disconnected regions, the project in 2007 hosted the country’s first agriculture fair in Kabul. More than 50,000 visitors came to see 150 exhibits. Since then, the project has held several more fairs, drawing hundreds of thousands. As of last year, 100,000 individuals have received training and nearly 1.5 million rural Afghanistan households have benefited from the project.
Afghanistan FEWS NET II Activities,
2006-2010 U.S. Agency for International Development
Under this task order of the FEWS NET indefinite quantity contract, Chemonics helps deliver early warnings of natural disasters, food insecurity, vulnerability to food insecurity, and famine in Afghanistan. Chemonics also works to increase the quantity and quality of information used to monitor food security and vulnerability; assess needs; evaluate preparedness, contingency, and response plans; and develop national and regional monitoring and assessment capabilities.
Afghanistan Trade Accession and Facilitation,
2009-2010 U.S. Agency for International Development
For 4,000 years, Afghanistan has been at the crossroads of continents, cultures, and commerce. But after decades of war, the country’s trade policy is fractured and inefficient, and Afghanistan has one of the world’s lowest per capita incomes. The Trade and Accession Facilitation for Afghanistan (TAFA) project is designed to help Afghanistan harness the enormous trade and investment potential of its strategic location. The project will work to increase investment, exports, and market-based employment opportunities by supporting trade policy liberalization, customs reforms, and trade facilitation zones. A comprehensive public outreach program will also be developed to increase understanding of and support for a liberal trade regime by the business community and the public. As a result, increased economic growth will be achieved due more efficient imports and exports, streamlined cross-border trade and customs procedures, and improved consistency and interagency coordination for trade policy.
Albania MCC Albania Threshold II Program (Stage II),
2009-2011 Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID
When measured against Millennium Challenge Corporation indicators, Albania scored poorly in the area of corruption and rule of law. Building on the first Threshold project, Chemonics is working to streamline administrative procedures, making them more transparent and reducing official discretion, in the areas of tax administration, business licensing, and construction permitting. The project also is working to strengthen the rule of law and reduce corruption in the judicial system by supporting the development of a new administrative court. Finally, Chemonics is working to build NGOs’ capacity to contribute to policy dialogue, motivate officials to adopt key laws, and monitor enacted reforms. These efforts are designed to inspire investor confidence, thereby increasing Albania’s ability to attract foreign and domestic investment, to generate employment and increased income, and to help the country achieve its governance objectives and qualify for MCC compact status.
Albania Technical Assistance for Competitive Enterprise Development,
2009-2014 U.S. Agency for International Development
Although Albania’s economy has grown by more than 25 percent since 2005, further reform will be essential for this trend to continue. As the primary engine of Albania’s economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular must rapidly improve market orientation, enterprise productivity, and business practices. Chemonics will work with selected municipalities, industries, and enterprises to increase their ability to compete in domestic and international markets. The project will strengthen trade and investment through technical assistance and training on compliance with international standards for improved trade, as well as identifying and meeting market demands. The project also will work to increase enterprise productivity through greater efficiency and quality control and to improve workforce development through technical and managerial training. As well, Chemonics will facilitate enterprises’ access to credit and to the technologies that will help them to become more competitive and to grow. These efforts will help to achieve increased sales for SMEs, increased household incomes, and reduced unemployment rate, meaning greater prosperity for all Albanians.
