AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY
Pakistan: Investment Promotion Activity (IPA)
The purpose of the IPA is to strengthen Pakistan’s business enabling environment to build greater credibility of Pakistani institutions and improve the ecosystem for foreign direct investment and increase U.S.-Pakistan bi-lateral trade and investment. As a subcontractor, to this five year program, Development Executives will work closely with governments (federal and provincial) and private sector stakeholders (e.g., businesses, associations, investors, etc.) to strengthen the investment climate for foreign investors in Pakistan and promote opportunities for enhanced trade and investment between U.S. and Pakistan businesses. (USAID, 2022 – 2026)
Pakistan: Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Programme (SEED)
Development Executives is a key local subcontractor on the seven year SEED programme. The programme is geared towards supporting provincial economic development and sustainable energy in Pakistan. It will support the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), to plan and finance the infrastructure and investment it needs for growth, jobs and prosperity. The programme will also address Pakistan’s energy crisis by providing innovative financial solutions to industry for the adoption of sustainable energy practices. (DFID, 2020 – 2025)
UK: DFID International Multi-Disciplinary Programme Framework Agreement (IMDP)
Development Executives is a supplier for IMDP Framework Agreement which provides DFID to access advice and expertise in a cost efficient and effective manner across 11 thematic areas. Development Executives will provide support across multiple IMDP lots which include: Conflict & Governance; Education; Infrastructure; Livelihoods; Social Development; and, Research. (DFID, 2019 – 2021)
UK: Investment Promotion Programme (IPP), Evaluation & Learning
Development Executives’ CEO served as the Programme Evaluation Lead for the IPP. The IPP was a £50 million programme which provided support across four work streams: capacity building of Investment Promotion Agencies; Investment Promotion campaigns and events; technical assistance to Public Private Partnership for investment projects; and, trade and investment integrity initiatives. Focus countries included Nigeria, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Philippines. (FCDO, 2018 – 2021)
Iraq: Toolkit For Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation of Stabilization Activities
Development Executives’ founding member was retained to develop a toolkit to guide assessment, monitoring and evaluation of USAID/Iraq’s stabilization activities. Stabilization includes all projects designed to attract back internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original place of residence prior to being displaced as well those projects that will encourage them to stay (exclusive of demining and security). The toolkit covers all important factors and facets of developing and implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation program. The toolkit also provides information and analysis on best practices as well as recommendations for technological innovation that can be leveraged to increase the Mission’s effectiveness towards developing, managing and implementing stabilization activities. (USAID, 2017)
UK/Pakistan: Business Environment Reform Facility (BERF)
Development Executives was retained provide technical and advisory support for undertaking a research study for BERF focusing on identifying binding constraints and policy reform options for development of priority sectors in the Punjab province. The objectives of this research study were to: identify the binding constraints in the business environment to domestic investment and expansion in priority sectors (such as, agriculture, livestock, manufacturing and automotive sectors); assess potential of these sectors and implications of identified constraints in terms of economic growth, job creation, women’s economic empowerment, linkages with multinational firms and other spillovers to the local economy; and, provide policy reform recommendations. (DFID, 2016)
Pakistan: FATA Economic Stabilization Program (FESP)
FESP was a four-year, $50 million project to create jobs and improve economic opportunity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The program was designed to help farmers to move beyond food insecure subsistence and support non-farm entrepreneurs, and do so in ways that: improve their livelihood; increase returns from investments in infrastructure that the US Government had made in FATA; and, contribute to further stabilization of FATA by building viable economic alternatives to militancy. The program was meant to serve as a bridge between short-term stabilization activities and longer-term more sustainable development. Development Executives was tasked with leading implementation of Component 2 of the program which focused on non-agricultural activities, such as: strengthening and establishing micro and small enterprises; strengthening supply chains between business operators in the tribal areas and those in the settled areas markets; rehabilitating market infrastructure; and, developing local business and trade associations. (USAID, 2014 – 2016)
Pakistan: Punjab Enabling Environment Program (PEEP)
Development Executives was a key implementing partner for this five year USAID funded economic growth program. The goal of PEEP was to improve the enabling environment for the agriculture sector in Punjab to promote private sector-led growth, especially focusing on the horticulture and dairy and livestock sub-sectors. PEEP was geared towards creating internationally competitive policy environment for horticulture, livestock and dairy sub-sectors and providing the private sector with security required for investments in agriculture aimed at improving quality and quantity of produce in the domestic market. More specifically, PEEP aimed to: accelerate advocacy for policy, regulatory and institutional reforms through the private sector, leading to early adoption and implementation of these reforms; support institutional capacity building to sustain enabling environment reforms; and, mobilize major private sector investments in horticulture, livestock and dairy projects in support of changes in the business enabling environment. (USAID, 2014 – 2019)
Pakistan: Federally Administered Tribal Areas Investment Plan Study (FIPS)
Development Executives was retained to develop a broad-based investment plan for FATA. The need for developing FIPS stems from the idea that it is timely to undertake a stock take of progress realized through an economic growth lens and to provide stakeholders with a road map of investment options available for increasing economic activity across FATA. The investment plan is being built upon in-depth analysis and assessment of key economic sectors (such as, agribusiness, livestock and dairy, fisheries, forests, trade, minerals, education and health) where growth can be realized. These investment plans will double as both as a strategic planning tool as well as a guiding instrument for stakeholder’s activities in FATA. Moreover, information provided in these plans will enable public and private sector stakeholders and donors to utilize and allocate resources more effectively for broad-based economic development of FATA. (USAID, 2013 – 2014)
Pakistan: South Waziristan Agency Development Plan (SWA ADP)
Development Executives was contracted by USAID to develop the SWA ADP. The SWA ADP assignment was designed to provide government and donors with a viable set of investment options for enhancing the socio-economic circumstance across the tribal agency. Developing the ADP involved conducting in-depth assessments and analysis for five key sectors: water; agriculture; trade; minerals; and, power. Then, based upon sector-specific assessments, the Development Executives team: developed fully costed medium-term agency recommendations/action plans; highlighted investment opportunities that could catalyze economic growth; and, outlined opportunities for establishing viable public-private-partnerships. (USAID, 2012 – 2013)
Iraq: Mid-Term Evaluation of Financial Development Program (FDP)
Development Executives’ core team member served as Team Leader for conducting a Mid-Term Evaluation of the FDP. The key objectives of this $52 million program were to: expand private sector financial intermediation by enhancing advocacy capacity of the private financial sector; improve soundness of the private financial sector through institution building and targeted reforms (e.g., establishing credit bureau, introducing retail payment systems, etc.); and, improve quality and availability of finance and business education. (USAID, 2012)
Pakistan: Mid-Term Evaluation of Federally Administered Tribal Areas Development Program – Livelihood Development (FDP-LD)
Development Executives was retained by USAID to assess performance of one of its largest livelihoods development programs geared towards development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The evaluation: assessed FDP-LD’s progress in relation to its goals, objectives, activities and indicators; analyzed and evaluated long term, sustainable impact of FDP-LD’s investments and interventions; captured FDP-LD’s success or failure in adopting viable programmatic approaches and interventions; and, informed USAID on ways to improve future assistance to Pakistan. (USAID, 2011)
Pakistan: Bajaur and Mohmand Agency Development Plans (ADP)
Development Executives’ core team member served as Team Leader for developing ADPs, or investment plans, for conflict prone tribal agencies within the tribal area of Pakistan. Main focus of these ADPs was to develop detailed assessments and value chain analysis to highlight opportunities for interventions and investments that would spur sustainable socio-economic development across two tribal agencies of Bajaur and Mohmand. The ADPs focused on five key sectors, namely: water; agriculture; trade; minerals; and, power. (USAID, 2010)
Pakistan: Federally Administered Tribal Areas Capacity Building Program (FATA CBP)
Development Executives’ core team member was retained by USAID’s FATA Capacity Building Program to develop and implement high profile industrial development initiatives across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. This involved: developing an institutional framework for investment promotion; advising on establishment of special economic zones; conducting consultative workshops to secure buy-in of key stakeholders; designing and implementing a range of donor funded technical assistance programs; and, enhancing capacity of both the public as well as the private sector. (USAID, 2008 – 2010)
UK: Business Plan for Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Development Executives’ core team member led the development of a comprehensive business plan for AGRA clearly laying out the landscape of African Agriculture, the role of AGRA, its composition and governance, its strategy, programs and human resources and financial planning required to deliver on its ambitious goals. The project also involved successfully developing a completed proposal to DFID that resulted in securing $15 million in additional funding for AGRA. The proposal addressed key issues for appraisal by DFID, such as, Institutional, Social, Economic, Political, Environmental & Fiduciary Risk Assessments, etc. (DFID, 2008)
UK: Irish Cooperation Programme in South East Asia
Development Executives’ core team member developed in-depth assessments of Southeast Asian economies that supported the development of Irish Aid’s Strategy for the region. The assessment focused on using Ireland’s growth experience to develop a strategy of engagement with high growth countries, such as, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. For each country, assessments of the patterns of growth, development challenges and assessment of government development plans and policies that fed into the final strategy report. (Irish Aid, 2007)
Pakistan: Balochistan Resource Management Programme (BRMP)
Development Executives’ core team member was retained by ADB to lead and manage the development of a broad-based Private Sector Development Strategy for Balochistan Province. The assignment required developing in-depth value chain assessments and analysis across a number of key economic sectors (such as, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, dairy, minerals and fisheries); advising businesses (domestic and foreign) and government on a range of public private partnership ownership and operating models; and, developing sector-specific action plans. (ADB, 2004 – 2005)
Pakistan: UNDP Lachi Poverty Reduction Project
Development Executives core team member worked with UNDP’s Lachi Poverty Reduction Project as a Programme Manager. This multi- sectoral initiative was geared towards improving the livelihoods of over 100,000 inhabitants of the Lachi area of Kohat district in NWFP. (UNDP/DFID, 2003 – 2005)
