USAID Economic Security Program Quarterly Report Quarter 1 FY24: Oct – Dec 2023

The Program has launched its fifth and final year, with a strong quarter from October to December 2023. A total of 112 grant awards were issued, exceeding the initially planned number. The Program has started the closedown process, which includes the completion of all grant activities according to the timeframe and the final handover of equipment to grantees to round out and grow their businesses. The Program has achieved significant milestones this quarter, including the launch of Georgia's 'E-Waste Collection and Management System' through its partnership with the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) 'Wasteless'. The Program has also facilitated the launch of Optimo LLC's office in Uzbekistan, which has obtained resident status at IT Park Uzbekistan and gained access to a wide array of benefits, including a preferential tax regime. Additionally, the Program has organized the Fire and Life Safety Workshops for MSMEs operating in the health and wellness space in Samtskhe-Javakheti, equipping 25 SME participants with essential knowledge and skills. The Program's partnerships are proving to be excellent facilitative mechanisms to achieving success in its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with buy-in from external stakeholders, both public and private, that will lay the foundation for programmatic sustainability after its closedown in April 2024. As the Program enters its final quarter, it will ensure its sustainability partners, such as ICDC, Wasteless, and TBC Bank, have all that they need to continue the Program activities' success in the future. The results from this quarter are outlined below in the Impact section with quarterly and sector highlights. The Georgian Sommelier Association has developed 3 new fee-based Wine Audit and Consultation Service packages for the HORECA sector, already resulting in 28 new association members and bolstering the Association's financial stability and resilience. The E-commerce Association – Georgia's conclusion of the OCAP grant yielded 4 tailored consultancy services for E-commerce MSMEs and 3 fee-based membership packages, securing subscriptions from 15 companies and selling 7 consultancy services, generating GEL 10,493.00 in revenue in a short period. The Program's multi-faceted support for the animation sector has resulted in the selection of three Georgian animation films for the PIAFF Paris International Animation Film Festival scheduled in January 2024. The Program has also facilitated the launch of Georgia's 'E-Waste Collection and Management System', a pivotal step in addressing systemic Solid Waste Management (SWM) challenges in Georgia. The Program has organized various events and workshops, including the Startup Investment Forum in Batumi and the Gurjaani Wine Festival, which drew a large audience showcasing the Program's success through the success of its beneficiaries and partners. The Program's partnerships are proving to be excellent facilitative mechanisms to achieving success in its KPIs, with buy-in from external stakeholders, both public and private, that will lay the foundation for programmatic sustainability after its closedown in April 2024. The Program will ensure its sustainability partners have all that they need to continue the Program activities' success in the future. The results from this quarter are outlined below in the Impact section with quarterly and sector highlights. The Program has achieved significant milestones this quarter, including the launch of Georgia's 'E-Waste Collection and Management System' and the launch of Optimo LLC's office in Uzbekistan. The Program has also organized various events and workshops, including the Fire and Life Safety Workshops for MSMEs operating in the health and wellness space in Samtskhe-Javakheti. The Program's partnerships are proving to be excellent facilitative mechanisms to achieving success in its KPIs, with buy-in from external stakeholders, both public and private, that will lay the foundation for programmatic sustainability after its closedown in April 2024.