Economic Development, Governance and Enterprise Growth Project: Annual Report - Year 1I

The three IRs are: IR 1: Improved Business Enabling Environment and Reduced Barriers to Trade, IR 2: Improved Financial Sector Stability and Increased Access to Finance, and IR 3: Improved Competitiveness through Value Chains and Trade Promotion. A Cross-Cutting IR, Countered Malign Influences, Corruption and Violent Extremism, is also a key focus area. EDGE is implementing regional economic development activities in the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia), Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus (UMB), and the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) through its "Core Component," as well as through the "Buy-in Component," which is a flexible mechanism that individual Missions, other USAID Operating Units, and other donors can utilize using their own funds. All Core activities engage participants from at least two countries. In Year 2 of the project, EDGE continued the successful implementation of activities under each component and made sizeable progress. EDGE organized 139 events with participation of 5,406 beneficiaries under both Intermediate Results (IR 1 and IR 3) from all 12 EDGE participating countries. These beneficiaries included representatives of SMEs, business services organizations (BSOs), NGOs, government institutions, regional and international organizations and bodies, and individuals, including EDGE grants under contracts (GUCs). Through these activities, EDGE is supporting SMEs to navigate and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. EDGE supports the active participation of women in project activities with 55% of the participants in EDGE interventions being women. 86% of the respondents of EDGE training events stated the training was useful for their work and that they have implemented knowledge/skills in their daily work. SMEs participating in EDGE interventions including GUCs contributed $1,108,997 cash and in-kind. EDGE created synergies among USAID Missions and projects, other donor projects, and public and private stakeholders, and implemented 17 joint regional activities with 30% of the costs leveraged. Significant progress has been achieved across all activities under IR 1. EDGE organized eight events related to business enabling environment and reduced barriers to trade such as training events, workshops, forums, and conferences. The events were attended by 613 participants from EDGE countries, and also from regional and international organization dealing with trade facilitation. 204 organizations had an opportunity to build their capacities including Customs Administrations representatives, Authorized Economic Operators, BSOs, Chambers, and SMEs. EDGE achieved an important milestone with the signing of the bilateral Framework Agreement on Joint Border Crossing Points (JBCPs) between Albania and North Macedonia. IR 2: Improved Financial Sector Stability and Increased Access to Finance, focuses on improving financial sector stability and increasing access to finance for SMEs. EDGE organized 31 events under this IR, with participation of 1,514 beneficiaries from all 12 EDGE participating countries. These beneficiaries included representatives of financial institutions, SMEs, BSOs, NGOs, government institutions, regional and international organizations and bodies, and individuals. IR 3: Improved Competitiveness through Value Chains and Trade Promotion, focuses on improving competitiveness through value chains and trade promotion. EDGE organized 99 events under this IR, with participation of 3,279 beneficiaries from all 12 EDGE participating countries. These beneficiaries included representatives of SMEs, BSOs, NGOs, government institutions, regional and international organizations and bodies, and individuals. The Cross-Cutting IR, Countered Malign Influences, Corruption and Violent Extremism, focuses on countering malign influences, corruption, and violent extremism. EDGE organized 10 events under this IR, with participation of 290 beneficiaries from all 12 EDGE participating countries. These beneficiaries included representatives of government institutions, regional and international organizations and bodies, and individuals. Grants Under Contract (GUCs) are a key component of the EDGE project. EDGE implemented 17 GUCs in Year 2, with a total budget of $1,108,997. These GUCs supported SMEs to navigate and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and contributed to the achievement of the project's IRs.