About EMDAP
The Emerging Markets Development Advisers Program (EMDAP), formerly known as
the "Free Market Development Advisers Program (FMDAP)" was initiated
in 1992. Since then, over 230 Advisers have participated in the program, providing
assistance to over 150 businesses and organizations in 46 USAID-assisted countries.
EMDAP advisers -- all students and recent graduates of U.S. Masters
programs -- represent 86 U.S. graduate schools.
Selected in open, merit-based national competitions, the
Advisers reflect the diverse population of students enrolled
in graduate international business & development programs
across the United States.
Program Objectives
- For Local Entrepreneurs: Strengthen Business Skills
Encourage and support broad-based economic growth, as well as enhancement
of the management practices of local entrepreneurs in developing countries
through assistance to small and medium-sized businesses.
- For U.S. Graduate Schools: Develop International
Business Training
Bring home development lessons learned in the field to prepare U.S. students
for work in and with developing countries, as well as expansion of the
graduate business school curricula to include the business practices of
emerging markets.
- For the U.S. Business Community: Increase International
Competence of U.S. Workforce
Enlarge the reservoir of internationally competent U.S. business executives
available to assist American companies in doing business with emerging
markets.
- For the Global Business Community: Increase U.S.
Business Linkages Overseas
Utilize previously established professional and personal contacts with
developing country enterprises in order to capitalize on trade and investment
opportunities abroad.
- For USAID: Capacity Development
Increasing its capacity for developing human resources in support of broad-based,
sustainable economic growth.
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A recent impact study has demonstrated the program’s
effectiveness in achieving its objectives, with all five elements
benefiting from EMDAP. The impacts are immediate as well as
long-term. Several host companies and organizations reported
improvements in their operations within months of the Adviser’s
arrival.
Examples of Adviser-initiated innovations have ranged from
introducing time and cost saving methods in product packaging,
to implementing a customer friendly, country-wide bank deposit
system, to designing and activating a revenue-increasing, computerized,
activity-based cost control and pricing system.
The U.S. business community has recognized the potential
contribution of EMDAP Advisers to their success in the global
marketplace. EMDAP alumni have moved into positions in international
business or development with major U.S. corporations as well
as small and medium-sized businesses, business-serving institutions,
non-governmental and non-profit organizations.
Many EMDAP advisers have used their experience to springboard
into a variety of interesting and challenging international
assignments. One Adviser was hired by a U.S. company to promote
telecommunications business with Asia largely on the strength
of his EMDAP experience in Nepal. Another Adviser has furthered
his interests in international business by working in the Chicago
stock exchange, focusing specifically on emerging markets.
An example of international development work is the experience
of an Adviser who has gone on to work with agribusiness development
in Latin America. Yet another Adviser decided to pursue a career
in microfinance based on his initial experience in South Africa
with a rural microfinance institution.
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Assignments
The program is designed to provide technical support in business
management practices to local businesses and business-serving
organizations. By targeting assistance to the requirements
of small to medium sized businesses and organizations that
serve them, the EMDAP supports the USAID strategy of human
resource capacity building as an essential element for broad
based, sustainable economic growth.
EMDAP staff in Washington work closely with USAID missions
and host organizations to review candidate qualifications and
match them with appropriate work assignments. Each Adviser
serves for 10 months, sometimes longer, providing professional
assistance to middle and upper management.
Areas of assistance vary widely, but those most frequently
required are:
- Financial planning and cost control
- Loan portfolio tracking and analysis
- Production efficiency, inventory systems and quality control
- Marketing, sales and import/export
- Human resources development/management
- Information systems and database management
- Strategy development/implementation
- Property development
- Policy Analysis & Coordination
- Development of Microfinance manuals and BDS implementation
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After the Assignment
At the end of the assignment, Advisers still enrolled in
a degree program return to complete course work at their respective
university. This campus period provides opportunity for returned
Advisers to share their impressions of working in a developing
country with colleagues and professors.
Advisers who have already completed their degree program
often choose to stay on to continue work in their host country
upon completion of their EMDAP assignment.
Upon return from assignment, all Advisers complete work on
a case study that illustrates important considerations for
doing business in emerging markets. The first volume of these
case studies, Portraits of Small Businesses from the Developing
World, the second and third volumes Portraits of Business Practices
in Emerging Markets, and the accompanying instructor’s
manuals have been distributed widely to U.S. business schools.
The fourth volume will soon be available online.
Graduate, international business and development schools
attended by EMDAP Advisers have also begun to expand curricula
offerings to include broader and more in-depth consideration
of business issues in emerging markets. Several schools now
regularly use EMDAP case studies in their courses, and at least
one university has added a trade and investment class specifically
directed at conducting business in South America.
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USAID Collaboration
Under a cooperative effort between USAID, the Institute of
International Education (IIE), and Volunteers for Economic
Growth Alliance (VEGA), the Emerging Market Development Advisers
Program is supported by USAID missions overseas, USAID’s
implementing partners and USAID in Washington DC.
Microfinance Assignments & Business Development Services
The EMDAP began collaborating with USAID/Washington's Microenterprise
Development Division (MDD) in 1998. Each year since then,
the MDD has supported placements of multiple U.S. graduate
degree candidates - primarily MBA and international development
candidates - for 10 month work assignments in a range of
worldwide non-governmental organizations that deliver microfinance
and business development services. Over the past seven years,
EMDAP advisers have provided valuable technical assistance
to build the capacity of host enterprises to better serve
their local clients. Microfinance or Business Development
Services assignments have taken place in all geographic regions.
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