Workforce and Higher Access to Markets (WHAM) Activity Quarterly Program Performance Report, January 1 – March 31, 2020

The Activity is primarily implemented through a grant program for BiH private enterprises, focusing on high-growth, exporting, or export-ready enterprises aiming to expand capacity, reach more markets, and generate employment. The WHAM Activity includes three key intervention areas: Workforce Development, Access to Markets, and Product Quality and Capacity Building. The Workforce Development intervention aims to help the BiH workforce gain the skills needed for employment in high-growth enterprises. This is achieved through training programs, workshops, and other capacity-building activities. The Access to Markets intervention supports high-growth enterprises in identifying and accessing new customers in existing or new markets to increase exports from BiH. This is accomplished through market research, trade missions, and other business development activities. The Product Quality and Capacity Building intervention enables enterprises to meet the product and quality requirements of target markets in the EU and the region. This is achieved through quality management systems, product development, and other capacity-building activities. The WHAM Activity is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded activity implemented by the International Executive Service Corps (IESC), in conjunction with local sub-recipient ENOVA. The Activity is governed under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-168-LA-17-00001, with a period of performance originally from June 9, 2017 to June 8, 2020. On October 24, 2019, USAID approved a two-year extension to the Cooperative Agreement, extending the end date of the Activity to June 8, 2022. During the reporting period of January 1 to March 31, 2020, the WHAM Activity negotiated and signed three grant agreements. The Activity achieved most of the results from the activity indicators, including the creation of 1,571 new full-time jobs, surpassing the Year 3 target of 1,545 jobs. Several grantees completed all activities and were successfully closed, while others received certifications, trained new workforce, and participated in trade fairs. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and government rules on social distancing and international travel restrictions created challenges and some delays for the majority of current WHAM grantees. The WHAM Activity has disbursed around $ for grant activities out of the original $ grant funds as of March 31, 2020. The Activity has also approved 21 active grant extension requests to complete grant activities. Volunteer activities had to be postponed and/or canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the WHAM team in Sarajevo had to move to remote work and stop all planned travel and in-person site visits starting March 16. The WHAM Activity has supported various grantees in achieving their goals, including Drvoprodex, Boksit, and others. These grantees have participated in trade fairs, received certifications, and trained new workforce. The Activity has also supported the FBIH Chamber in achieving its goals, including hiring 84 new workers during the time the grant was active. The WHAM Activity continues to work towards its goals, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.