As part of USAID’s Advanced Micro-enterprise Achievement Program (AMAP), DevTech staff visited Guatemala this summer to interview firms and conduct other preliminary research and coordination efforts for a survey of MSEs. The purpose of the survey is to identify opportunities and difficulties of small enterprises in Guatemala, and to research how small enterprises can thrive in local, national, and global markets. DevTech staff has been helping design the research protocol, survey methodology and training materials for local surveyors. This winter, DevTech staff will coordinate efforts with a local research group for data collection, and survey data. The staff will then work with The Louis Berger Group, Inc. and Harvard University to compile and assess findings from the data and from key informants and other information sources, and participate in overall data analysis in order to refine the methodology for additional case-studies. The team is hoping to interview more than 600 small businesses in Guatemala, as well as suppliers and exporters, to get a full view of the value chain process in different sectors. Results of this survey will be used as a model for similar research efforts in other countries throughout the world during the next few years.

This work falls under a task order under AMAP Business Development Services (BDS) - Knowledge and Practice. The USAID Micro-enterprise Development Division (EGAT/PR/MD) has initiated a three-year program to advance knowledge sharing and implementation of lessons learned in BDS. Based on a multi-consortia research agenda, the AMAP BDS Knowledge & Practice activity will release task orders to conduct research, provide technical assistance and deliver training under eight components:

• Component A: Research on Clients and Markets
• Component B: Tools for Market and Other Pre-design Assessments
• Component C: Intervention Design and Implementation Research
• Component D: Impact and Other Post-intervention Assessments
• Component E: Broader Research
• Component F: BDS Training
• Component G: Short-term Technical Services
• Component H: Information Sharing
  

DevTech is participating on two of the components – A and H - with current work falling mostly into Component A. The objective of Component A is to provide USAID missions and their partners with tools and strategies for a) enhancing inter-firm cooperation and coordination between MSEs and other firms in value chains and b) encouraging MSE owners to upgrade their businesses to improve competitiveness. Component A activities include a combination of desk studies and field research.