Workforce and Higher Access to Markets (WHAM) Activity Annual Report, October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019

The Activity focused on four sectors: wood processing, information technology and communications (ICT), and footwear. High-growth, exporting or export-oriented enterprises were prioritized for grants, aiming to expand capacity, reach more markets, and generate employment. The WHAM Activity included three intervention areas: Workforce Development, Access to Markets, and Product Quality and Capacity. The Workforce Development objective was to help the local workforce gain the skills needed for employment in high-growth enterprises. The Activity identified workforce gaps in labor skills and linked training service providers or facilitative intermediaries to capacity building services. Special attention was given to a qualified cohort of young people and women. The Access to Markets objective was to support high-growth enterprises in identifying and accessing customers in existing or new markets to increase exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Market-access activities for BiH enterprises were primarily contract-oriented, but the WHAM Activity also supported the abilities of enterprises to collect market information and mine key international market data critical to the development of successful market strategies and engagement. The Product Quality and Capacity objective was to enable enterprises to meet the product and quality requirements of target markets in the EU and the region. Grant support aided enterprises in achieving new certifications and introducing new chain of custody systems. The WHAM Activity prioritized efforts that incorporated new manufacturing processes, new technology, and greater energy-efficient equipment to improve BiH high-growth enterprise competitiveness in global markets. The WHAM Activity achieved peak performance during Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The team monitored implementation of the RFA 001, evaluated and monitored applications from RFA 002-005, and published RFA 006-008. In total, WHAM had 33 active grants. The Activity received 11 unsolicited applications and 13 additional applications in various stages of evaluation and approval process. By the end of the reporting period, WHAM had awarded grants to 72 companies, and 122 unique companies were supported in some way. The WHAM Activity leveraged expert volunteers for work with 77 companies and directly supported 72 companies via grant support. Public relations efforts included active promotion of all WHAM activities on social media platforms LinkedIn and Facebook, as well as on its web page. WHAM achieved significant results in FY2019, with 1,075 jobs created, exceeding the total 1,545 jobs life of Activity target. Female participation totaled 43 percent, and youth participation was 54 percent, both above the targets for these indicators. Companies reported 141 new sales, with most of this support coming in the form of workforce development, resulting in 344 people trained.