Osama Hariri
USAID Middle East Economic Growth Best Practices Project (USAID/MEG)
2017–2022
We provide USAID’s Middle East Bureau, Missions, and Operating Units with tools to advance economic growth and reform across the Middle East and North Africa. By implementing pilot programs and providing comprehensive knowledge management services, we develop, apply, and evaluate best practices to stabilize post-Arab Spring economies. In the process, we help public and private stakeholders to drive growth, create jobs, and leverage investment.
This USAID-financed project is implemented by a consortium of development consulting firms led by Pragma. Together, we rapidly mobilize expert teams to develop customized solutions to country-specific challenges. Contact us to learn more about buy-in options.
Waad Mahmoud
Osama Shareef
Libya Economic Stabilization Program (LESP)
2017–2019
This pilot program partners with the public and private sectors to grow the Libyan economy— activities that in turn advance efforts to counter violent extremism.
We provide technical assistance and capacity building to support public financial management and electricity delivery. During the program’s first year, we also partnered with small and medium-sized businesses in high-growth sectors to catalyze sales and jobs.
In 2018, the program established Libya’s first Macro-Fiscal Reform Unit to improve fiscal planning, assisted 24 municipalities with financial action plans, generated over 1,400 jobs for at-risk youth, and launched a task force to address the electricity crisis.
established Libya’s first Macro-Fiscal Unit to improve fiscal planning across all levels of the Libyan government
assisted 24 municipalities with financial action plans to provide the people with essential public services
partnered with more than 40 Libyan SMEs to increase productivity and generate over 1,400 sustainable jobs in high-potential sectors
supported government in providing people with a reliable, affordable source of power by both improving supply and reducing demand
Yemen Economic Stabilization and Success Program (YESS)
2017–2020
This pilot program supports self-reliance and resilience by facilitating trade, increasing employment, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and stabilizing crucial macroeconomic policy issues.
The program has leveraged private-sector commitments to generate over 3,500 jobs for at-risk populations, worked with the public and private sectors to launch a breakthrough trade facilitation initiative at Yemen’s major port of Aden, provided livelihood support to over 3,700 farmers, and assisted the Central Bank of Yemen to articulate major macro-financial reform challenges and support needs.
Waad Mahmoud
launched breakthrough trade program to reduce costs and delays at Yemen’s major Port of Aden
partnered with 100+ local businesses to generate over 3,500 jobs for at-risk populations
generated approximately $6 million in loans for small and medium-sized businesses
trained more than 3,700 farmers and supported them to start and grow sustainable businesses