Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697751604961.pdf (Georgia)
The USAID Economic Security Program February 27, 2021 Increasing the Livelihoods of Georgian Citizens through the Creation of Economic Opportunity The USAID Economic Security Program Snapshot • Accelerate broad-based growth of sectors with strong potential to create jobs, to increase incomes, to increase micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) revenues.
• Implementation timeframe: April 2019 – April 2024 • Budget: USD 23 mln Target Sectors and Value Chains • Tourism (Gastronomic, Cultural/Historical, Mountain/Adventure) • Light Manufacturing (Furniture, Packaging, Construction Materials, PPE and Solid waste management) • Creative Industries (Production, Postproduction, Artisans) • Shared Intellectual Services (BPO, ICT) • Cross-Cutting: E-Commerce and Logistics Our Approach The Sector Competitiveness Eco-System Workforce Development Access to Finance Market Linkages Sector Competitiveness Enablers Innovation Investment Our Interventions Component 1 Overview of Approach 01 02 03 Bolster sector enabling environment (e.g.
BSOs, policy, cross- cutting mechanisms) Infuse innovation Facilitate access to finance Strengthen Cooperation in Target Sectors • 1.1 Support the Development of Sector Associations • 1.2 Facilitate Public-Private Dialogue • 1.3 Increase and Strengthen Market Linkages • 1.4 Support Sector Stakeholders to Identify, Prioritize and Access Investment • 1.5 Work with Financial Institutions to Extend Credit in Target Sectors Component 2 Overview of Approach 01 Bolster market linkages 02 03 Infuse international standards Promote a robust export environment 04 Increase visibility Support Enterprises to Improve Productivity, Sales, Quality, and Develop New Products and Services • 2.1 Improve Firm Level Operations • 2.2 Improve Firm Level Productivity, Productive Capacity, and Product Quality • 2.3 Improve Ability to Meet International Production Standards • 2.4 Continue to Enhance the Tourism Sector Component 3 Overview of Approach 01 Facilitate the development of industry-led employment systems 02 03 Drive a market- oriented approach to skills development Provide opportunities for internships and on- the-job training Industry-Led Workforce Development • 3.1 Strengthen Linkages Between Industry, Government, and Educational Institutions • 3.2 Support Business to Creation On-the- Job Learning Opportunities • 3.3 Develop Training Programs for Targeted Sectors • 3.4 Upgrade Quality and Safety Standards • 3.5 Link Graduates with Entrepreneurial and Employment Opportunities • 3.6 Design Sustainable Workforce Development Programs Component 4 Overview of Approach 01 Facilitate primary partnership opportunities that lay the foundation for secondary opportunities 02 Facilitate “clusters of opportunities” within regions to increase economic growth 03 04 Engage global partners to enhance investment Encourage public and private sector collaboration Building Public-Private Partnerships • 4.1 Outreach in Each Sector to Identify Partnership Opportunities • 4.2 Outreach to International Partnership Networks • 4.3 Identifying and
 Supporting Partnership Opportunities • 4.4 Monitor Investment and Deal Outcomes Youth and Gender Promoting Youth and Gender (Program Level) • Provide coaching of the Program partners in gender and diversity sensitive project planning, implementation, and the evaluation • Attract new partners and strengthen the cooperation with youth and women organizations through participation in working groups • Wage online campaign to encourage women’s increased representation in male- dominated professions in targeted value chains Promoting Youth and Gender (Breakdown) • Engage with youth and women’s associations to devise innovative interventions for engagement of youth and women into Program activities • Promote women in technology through grants, Women Who Tech Award Georgia and other similar initiatives • Implement Students Program to promote the Program’s sectors and value chains among students and actively engage them in developing new and innovative products • Promote and Facilitate the T4L and #Go4It Activities to Ensure Applicability for Youth, Women, and Vulnerable Groups Implementing the Plan • Grants • Partnership Development Fund • Technical Assistance Difference/similarities between PDF and Grant PDF vs. GRANT • $3 million USD overall • leverage • 50% if GDA • no minimum if PPP, but you need to bring GOG to the table • benefits the private sector • larger scale • eligibility – can be international • partner • respond to solicitation • competitive process • due diligence • contributes to KPIs • $4.6 million USD overall • cost share • 30%* • 60% • benefits the community • smaller scale • eligibility – cannot be international • beneficiary/grantee *all grants cost share is 30% until December 2021 due to COVID-19 23 Grants • Number of Planned Grants in Year 2: 35 • Grant Budget for Year 2: $1,200,000 • RFAs • T4L Workforce Skills Development • Tourism and Non-Tourism Product Development • Standards and Certifications • BSO Development $4,600,000 Component 3 Grant size must
 not exceed $100,000 per recipient Grants agreements and disbursements are made in local currency (Georgian Lari) Eligible Organizations for Grants (legally registered and recognized under the laws of Georgia) NGOs, Educational Institutions Private enterprises and entities (MSMEs) Business service organizations Industry/sector, trade, or other private sector associations Cost-share Requirement for Grants MSMEs 30% cash cost-share required (loans may be used) No in-kind contribution!
Note: 30% cost share is effective till the end of 2021.

This requirement can be changed back to 60% from this date.

Non-profit entities, association, cooperatives, 30% cash cost- share required (loans and in- kind contribution may be used) Grants for training and educational improvements.
30% cash cost- share required (loans and in- kind contribution may be used) third-party private sector contribution Requirements and parameters for implementing cost-share grants • Grants provided to MSMEs must not exceed 70* percent of the total new estimated cash investment required for a new business start-up or the expansion of an existing business.

Loans may be used to meet matching requirements; however, in-kind contributions will not be considered.
• Grants provided to non-profit entities, including cooperatives and associations, must not exceed 70 percent of the total new estimated cash investment required to improve and/or expand operations.

Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements for these non-profit entities.

• Grants provided to finance training and educational improvements and new offerings must not exceed 70 percent of the total new estimated cash investment required for the improvement or new offering.
Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements.
Priority must be given to grantees who secure third-party private sector contributions to meet the matching requirements *This modification of cost-share requirement applies to the next 18 months period starting from the approval date of COVID-related add-on to the Georgia Economic Security Program (June 25, 2020) Planned Grant Solicitations for the Y2 • Organizational Capacity Assistance Grants • International Standards and Certifications • Solid Waste Management/Environmental Process Support • E-Commerce Development • Tourism and Non-Tourism Product Development • Industry-Led Skills Development • ICT Skills Development • #Go4It Internship Initiative • Women Who Tech Support All grants will be announced on Jobs.ge.
Please check this link regularly for ongoing grants: https://jobs.ge/en/?view=client&client=usaid-economic- security-program Partnership Development Fund • Year 2 Budget: $850,000 • Partnerships in Pipeline/Under Development • Creative Industries • Shared Intellectual Services • Light Manufacturing/PPE • Tourism The Program and the Approach for PDF • 5 years, 4 components, 5 sectors • Committed to building partnerships that drive deeper local and international private sector engagement across the five priority sectors • One mechanism to achieve our goals is the Partnership Development Fund • $3M • Reduce risk, structure deals, and co-design PPPs and GDAs that contribute to the Program’s KPIs Definitions for PPPs, GDAs, & KPIs • PPP – public-private partnership: an activity that requires a contribution from the private sector and the public sector • GDA – global development alliance: an activity that requires a contribution from only the private sector, and it must be at least a 1:1 match with the Program’s funds • KPI – key program indictor: three indicators that the Program and USAID use to measure success • High-value job creation • Increase in sales/revenues • Increase in investment Tips for Submitting a Strong Concept Note • Follow instructions • read the EOI carefully and ensure you have submitted everything it asks for (https://jobs.ge/en/?view=jobs&id=290923) • re-read the evaluation criteria again after you have written the concept note • Be creative • what makes your idea different?
• Be clear about your ask $ • full budget is not required at concept note stage, but the more detail or clearer you are in the concept note, the easier it is for the Program to assess and understand your idea We have goals we need to meet too; your idea needs to align with our goals in order for us to be partners Technical Assistance • BIZ-Link • Government Agencies/Municipalities/Regional Authorities • Associations and other BSOs • Entrepreneurship/Startups • Market Linkages For more information please contact: Marika Shioshvili Deputy Chief of Party Mobile: +995 577 465 059 e-mail: marika_shioshvili@dai.com Keti Sidamonidze Market Linkages Specialist Mobile: +995 599 797 477 e-mail: Keti_Sidamonidze@dai.com