FIELD-Support is a Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement between the Office of Microenterprise Development in USAID (EGAT/PR/MD) and AED. The consortium includes nine core partners and 17 resource organizations. Core Organizations include AED, ACCION International, ACDI/VOCA, Action for Enterprise, CARE, FINCA International, IRIS Center-University of Maryland, Opportunity International, and Save the Children. Resource Organizations include Alternative Credit Technologies, Americas Association of Cooperative/Mutual Insurance Societies, Cornell University-Base of the Pyramid Laboratory, Development Training Services, Freedom from Hunger, Georgetown University-Center for Intercultural Education and Development, International Development Enterprise, International Real Property Foundation, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, Michigan State University-Agricultural Economics Department, Microfinance Opportunities, Rainforest Alliance, Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network, TechnoServe, University of Michigan-William Davidson Institute, Women’s World Banking, and World Vision International.
The purpose of the Leader award is to advance the frontiers of practical knowledge in relation to microfinance, microenterprise development, and sustainable rural livelihoods. FIELD-Support encompasses both a core Leader award and a mechanism for USAID missions to issue Associate Awards. The portfolio has a total value of more than $272 million. The Leader award includes activities that seed innovation, demonstrate better practices, document results, and disseminate findings that advance the global state-of-the-practice.
On December 8, 2010, the US government announced that AED was temporarily suspended “from receiving new U.S. Government awards pending an ongoing investigation by the USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG). AED continued to work with the FIELD-Support AOTR as well as the AOTR’s from each of the Associate Awards to address specific implications on current activities on a regular basis. On March 8, 2011, AED’s Board of Directors announced that it will pursue a process to transfer all programs and assets to another corporate entity. The Board and Senior Management believe this is the best option to ensure the continuity of our programs and to provide a new home for AED’s staff.
On July 1, 2011, it was determined that all of AED’s U.S. government contracts would be novated to FHI 360, which is the name of the combined organization of FHI (Family Health International) and a newly formed LLC, FHI Development 360, into which the AED staff, assets, and projects were transferred. FIELD-Support’s activities focus on fostering inclusive financial services, strengthening livelihoods for vulnerable households, growing small business and the private sector, and supporting agricultural and value chain development.
In the area of fostering inclusive financial services, FIELD-Support has implemented programs such as Expanded and Sustained Access to Financial Services in Palestine. This program supports USAID/WBG in its efforts to build a more inclusive financial sector that increases the sustainable access to financial services for Palestinian households and MSMEs. Implemented through a consortium approach, the program has implemented activities in six intervention areas, including major supply chain finance, microfinance, and financial literacy.
FIELD-Support has also implemented programs such as Value Chain Financing in Haiti, Rural and Agricultural Finance, Promoting Microfinance in South Sudan, and Increase Consumer Protection through the SMART Campaign. These programs aim to increase access to financial services for vulnerable households and MSMEs, promote financial inclusion, and improve consumer protection.
In the area of strengthening livelihoods for vulnerable households, FIELD-Support has implemented programs such as A Framework for Household Economic Strengthening, Measuring the Impact of Economic Strengthening on Child Well-Being, Developing a Practitioner Guide for Down Reach of the Value Chain Approach to Integrate Poor Producers, Behavior Change Perspectives on Gender and Value Chain Development, and Measuring Impact of the Graduation Approach. These programs aim to improve the economic well-being of vulnerable households and promote sustainable livelihoods.
FIELD-Support has also implemented programs such as Public Private Partnerships in Ukraine, Strengthening Diaspora-Backed Enterprises in Africa, Growing SMEs in Palestine, Expanding Market Access in Lebanon, and Youth Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. These programs aim to promote economic growth, improve access to markets, and support entrepreneurship.
In the area of supporting agricultural and value chain development, FIELD-Support has implemented programs such as Private Enterprise Expansion in Ecuador, Market Facilitation for Private Sector Growth in the Philippines, Institutional Building for Better Agricultural Policies in Ukraine, Integrating Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Agricultural Development, Building Staff Capacity Building in Value Chain Development through Coaching, and Working with Lead Firms Guide. These programs aim to improve agricultural productivity, promote private sector growth, and support value chain development.