AID grant to the International Executive Service Corps. (IESC) to strengthen and expand IESC"s technical assistance and management consulting programs

The grant will also help IESC to expand its geographic coverage in Honduras and to increase public awareness of its services. IESC will provide technical and managerial assistance to businesses in nine provinces - El Paraiso, Francisco Morazon, Comayagua, Coretez, Yoro, Atlantida, Colon, Islas de la Bahia, and Choluteca - compared to two provinces served previously. Increased emphasis will be placed on the agribusiness sector. In addition, IESC will increase the efficiency of its operations by requiring a client contribution of at least the equivalent of $1,000, and minimum length for consultancies of 30 days. Typical consultancies will cover product design, plant redesign, and production process modification. During the grant"s 2-year life, approximately 170 consultancies will be carried out, of which 70 will be directly supported by A.I.D. Quantifiable outputs for the project will include: (1) 200 new jobs generated and approximately 800 jobs maintained; (2) 20 assisted companies reporting increased profit; (3) 20 companies using new production technologies resulting in a minimum of 10% average cost savings; (4) 20 companies adopting administrative or other management reforms; and (5) 20 companies increasing annual sales by a minimum of 20%. IESC will establish a third regional IESC office in La Ceiba to serve the cities of Olanchito, Trujillo, Tela, and Bajo, as well as the Bay Islands and the Upper Aguan River. The grant will also finance operating expenses at the Tegucigalpa office. Promotional activities will include direct advertising of IESC"s sevices and the establishing of local advisory boards. Promotional materials such as pamphlets will be produced to describe IESC and its achievements, while marketing of IESC services will be begun through trade associations and cooperatives. Advisory boards, intended to support IESC"s efforts to broaden its marketing campaign, will include individuals with direct access to potential business clients.