Practice Areas
CATALYZING BUSINESS & JOB GROWTH
- Boosting competitiveness: by implementing the right technology and quality standards.
- Developing the workforce: by efficiently connecting businesses with skilled employees, promoting innovative job matching strategies and tools, and promoting adoption of demand-driven, public/private partnership-focused academic and vocational education training approaches.
- Expanding markets: by helping SMEs reach new customers at home and abroad on a smart and scale-able basis.
Areas of Expertise:
- Access to Finance
- Agribusiness Development
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Small and Medium Enterprise Business Development
- Value Chain and Market Systems Development
- Women-led Enterprises and Business Opportunities
- Workforce Development
PROMOTING MACRO-FINANCIAL & FISCAL REFORM
Pragma promotes overall economic stability and growth – leading to greater prosperity and improved livelihoods. Our programs support critical macro-financial policy/regulatory and institutional reforms that protect macroeconomic stability, enhance regulatory compliance of commercial finance institutions, and facilitate sustainably improved access to finance for SMEs (including through innovative financial product develop and digital finance approaches). We have a proven track record of delivering results in challenging environments, including post-conflict countries. Our teams of seasoned experts understand how to effectively promote formulation of and consensus on macro-financial reform pathways under challenging and volatile geo-political and institutional circumstances as well. In the area of fiscal reform, Pragma promotes expenditure planning and management reforms that support effective prioritization and transparent implementation and tracking/control over major public spending programs. We also support the design and effective implementation of efficient tax policy regimes and robust and cost-efficient revenue administration frameworks, that avoid disincentivizing investment and growth — while meeting fundamental equity and transparency objectives. Through rigorous fiscal policy analysis, introduction of cutting-edge fiscal analysis techniques and automation tools, and unwavering commitment to core fiscal efficiency and equity principles. our collaboration efforts set the stage for transformational improvements in public financial management outcomes that tangibly impact people’s lives.
Areas of Expertise:
- Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
- Business Environment Reform
- Capital and Financial Market Development
- Central Banking
- Credit Bureau Development
- Energy/Electricity Sector Reform
- Financial Sector Reform
- Government Accountability
- Monetary Policy Reform
- Mortgage Market Development
- Pension Development
- Public Communications and Engagement
- Public Financial Management
- Telecommunications Reform
- Transparency
BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
Pragma works to create a favorable enabling environment for increased local and foreign direct investment. We achieve this by:
- Improving the legal and regulatory environment for businesses and investment: We support legal and regulatory reforms that increase legal certainty, create an environment that eases business creation and operation, limits the opportunities for corruption, fosters growth and employment, and promotes competition.
- Strengthening institutions: Our programs build robust institutions that support economic growth and stability by facilitating business operation and investment.
- Attracting investment: We help to create a sound investor rights framework that attracts foreign and domestic investment.
Areas of Expertise:
- Economic Analysis
- Policy Development
- Regulatory Reform
- Trade Policy
- Tax Policy
- Investment Promotion
- Public Administration Reform
- Institutional Capacity Building
INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM
Pragma helps governments improve essential infrastructure. We promote cutting edge policy/regulatory and institutional reforms designed to establish a sound and independent regulatory framework for key infrastructure sectors – including energy, telecommunications, and transport. We also support innovative public/private partnership approaches that expand investment and elevate service coverage and quality across these sectors.
Areas of Expertise:
- Public Private Partnerships
- Electricity Sector Reform
- Telecommunications Reform
- Regulatory Compliance
- Infrastructure Law
- Data Analytics
- Technology
OPTIMIZING TRADE & INVESTMENT
Pragma promotes trade/investment policy and regulatory reforms designed to build robust win-win export and investment growth linkages for emerging market economies. We implement programs to harmonize trade policy/regulatory regimes in compliance with WTO requirements, streamline customs processes, and improve institutional capacity in the countries we work in to sustainably expand and diversify export growth. Our experts collaborate with public and private partners to reduce costs and delays, attract foreign investment and create new business opportunities through regional and global partnerships. By simplifying regulations and improving trade infrastructure, we help businesses thrive and economies prosper.
Areas of Expertise:
- Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Status
- Customs Reform and Cross Border Trade
- Digitization and Web-based Systems for Customs Processes
- Foreign Investment
- Regional Trade Promotion
- Quality Management, Standards, and Metrology
- World Trade Organization (WTO) Accession
EMPOWERING WOMEN
Pragma maximizes gender opportunity and empowerment by working with women entrepreneurs through our competitiveness enhancement programs. Our work focuses on providing training and support, connecting women-owned businesses to markets, and increasing their access to finance. Our goal is to create sustainable change in their lives by helping women build skills and successful businesses.
Areas of Expertise:
- Business Skills Development
- Gender Equity
- Gendered Analysis
- Market Linkages
- Women-led Businesses
- Women’s Employment
- Workforce Development
ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS
Pragma works across agricultural and other rural value chains to increase quality, productivity and profits. Our programs transform livelihoods and improve the lives of farmers – and increase the resilience of their communities. Our support and training programs promote adoption of practical technologies and better use of scarce resources that improve production, reduce costs, and eliminate wastage. By introducing best practices such as ISO certification, we help stakeholders across the full value chain meet international quality standards that open doors to higher value markets, locally and abroad. Working across value chains, we strive to ensure that benefits flow back upstream to improve livelihoods for farmers and fishermen, as well as those who trade and process their products.
Areas of Expertise:
- Buyer-led Approach
- Climate-Smart Technologies
- Demonstration Sites
- Fisheries
- Livestock
- Market Linkages
- Niche Markets
- Quality Standards/Enhancement
- Sales Agreements
- Value-addition
ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
Pragma supports governments and businesses to adopt sustainable practices. Our programs support development of clean energy, helping countries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. We assist farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture techniques, supporting farmers in growing food while protecting the environment. We promote resource conservation by introducing techniques to reduce waste and protect water, soil, and ecosystems. We focus on helping people in challenging conditions build strong, sustainable livelihoods, enhancing resilience while improving livelihoods.
Areas of Expertise:
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Electricity Sector Reform
- Energy Efficiency Standards and Reforms
- Multi-Donor Clean Energy Initiatives
- Solar and Wind Technology
