Citizens Development Corps is a nonprofit organization that supports private sector development and economic growth in emerging markets and transitioning economies worldwide by delivering practical strategies and solutions, high impact programs, and the expertise of experienced business professionals. CDC has worked in over fifty countries on four continents, and we have provided services to over 20,000 small and medium size enterprises as well as the institutions and government agencies that support them.

Wall Street Journal Profiles the IBM Corporate Service Corps

The Wall Street Journal has written a new article about the Corporate Service Corps and CDC, entitled “IBM Creates Volunteer Teams To Cultivate Emerging Markets.” To read the full article, please follow this link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121779236200008095.html?mod=2_1571_leftbox. For more information on the Corporate Service Corps, please contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDC has recently implemented a comprehensive  assessment of the local SME  sector in Soyo, Angola for the major Liquefied Natural Gas project in the area—Angola LNG Ltd. Angola LNG start-up operations are underway in this northern Angolan city, and local suppliers of goods and services will play a key role in satisfying LNG’s procurement needs in both the start-up phase and ongoing operations.  CDC is using the results of our assessment, based on our Supplier Gap Analysis model,  to design an innovative program that will increase the capacity of businesses in Soyo and the surrounding area to supply goods and services to the Oil and Gas Industry.  For more information about our work on local content development for the oil and gas industry, please contact Blake Hinderyckx at bhinderyckx@cdc.org. 

CDC and the Grass Roots Fund Begin New Partnership in Tanzania 

In July, the MBA Enterprise Corps begins a new partnership with the Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) in Tanzania. GBF—a spinoff of IFC—works to strengthen and expand grassroots enterprises that provide economic access and sustainable services in the most impoverished regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.  GBF provides “patient capital” financing as well as mentoring, strategic assistance, business advice and networking. Its aim is to grow its clients into scalable, sustainable social enterprises.  For CDC’s first project with GBF, we will work with Sero Lease and Finance Limited (SELFINA) in Tanzania, an indigenous microfinance institution (MFI) which assists women in building a solid economic base for themselves and for their families.  CDC will work with SELFINA to improve its internal financial management, strategic planning, and reporting capacity in its offices in Dar es Salaam.  For more information on CDC's work with GBF, please contact C.D. Glin at cdglin@cdc.org.

CDC Launches New Partnership with Equatorial Guinea LNG  

CDC is working with Equatorial Guinea Liquid Natural Gas (EG LNG) to develop the capacity of local firms and build local content in the LNG industry in Equatorial Guinea. In close conjunction with EG LNG partners in government, business and finance, CDC provides technical assistance and training on:

Program activities also include assisting entrepreneurs in gaining access to credit, liaising between banks and financing parties and entrepreneurs, providing credit management training, and working with failed applicants to analyze problems and find solutions.

CDC Embarks on Global Partnership with IBM 

CDC is pleased to report that we will be IBM’s prime implementing partner on its new global Corporate Service Corps. The Corporate Service Corps is a new initiative under IBM’s Global Citizenship Portfolio, which gives IBM staff access to global business and leadership opportunities as well as training and guidance to enter into new positions that support global economic growth. For the Corporate Service Corps, IBM has teamed with CDC to place teams of its employees with NGOs and SMEs in emerging markets for one month special projects. IBM employees from all of its global offices have been chosen through a highly competitive process to participate in the inaugural groups of the Corporate Service Corps, and the first groups will travel to their project countries in July-September of this year. In 2008, CDC will manage Corporate Service Corps activities in Ghana, Tanzania, and Romania, with expansion plans for 2009 and beyond. For more information on CDC and the IBM Corporate Service Corps, contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDC Extends JA FARMS Program in Jamaica 

USAID recently awarded CDC a 1-year extension of our Jamaica Farmers Access to Regional Markets (JA FARMS) program. JA FARMS uses a unique network model to link small holding farmers to major national and international markets. Under the extension, the program will be expanded to include two additional Biodiversity Zones in Jamaica and will continue to use the hurricane-resistant hoop tunnel houses developed by the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. The program will be able to take on new activities due to a greater level of funding than in its initial phase, and it will be implemented through a close relationship with the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. 

MBA Enterprise Corps Recruits Business Advisors for Winter/Summer 2009 Positions

The MBA Enterprise Corps is currently accepting applications for January 2009 positions. The 12-15 month assignments will be available in several locations, including (but not limited to) East, West and Southern Africa (Angola, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Sudan), Latin America (Ecuador, Guatemala and Guyana) and the Caucuses (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova). For more information about the MBAEC or the upcoming information sessions, please contact Alma Sadikaj or a School Representative from the consortium of our participating schools.