Managing Up, Down and Around: An Initial Gathering to Identify Lesson Learned from Implementing USAID Microenterprise Development Programs in Crisis and Post-Crisis Environments

This FIELD brief contains the results of a discussion on challenges and risks in implementing microenterprise development (MED) programs in crisis and post-crisis situations. With a view to improve field practice, a group of over 25 microenterprise practitioners and donors discussed these challenges, shared experiences and lessons learned, and made recommendations of effective programming. Challenges and risks in implementing MED programs in crisis and post-crisis situations include:

• Large volumes of funding;
• Demand for quick results;
• Changing donor priorities;
• Emphasis on quick credit, contributing to poor repayment, affecting future lending.

The document is structured around three distinct MED program management challenges:

• Managing up to USAID;
• Managing down to partners and sub-awardees;
• Managing around to the various other programs and stakeholders operating in the same space.