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USAID, Worldwide, March 2001 – September
2005
TCGI provides technical assistance and
support to the USAID Office of Development Credit (ODC), which
manages the Development Credit Authority (DCA). DCA is USAID’s
primary credit program, supporting development initiatives
globally through the use of loan and bond guarantees. The
credit program gives USAID Missions the ability to issue partial
guarantees to private lenders covering up to 50 percent of
risk on loans for projects that advance Mission strategic
objectives. Services provided by TCGI to ODC include: policy
and planning, project development, credit risk analysis, monitoring,
and communications support.
Policy and Planning
As an integrated member of the ODC staff, TCGI has been active
in assisting ODC in policy formulation and strategic plan
development. We have played an active role in developing and
revising the Operations Manual, Financial Viability Analysis
guidebook, and the Credit Assessment Handbook. Our planning
work has included market studies and research papers to facilitate
entry into new markets and sectors.
Project Development
New business and project development represent the core of
TCGI’s work with ODC. We serve as the primary economic
and financial advisers to DCA in evaluating and structuring
new deals. TCGI works with Missions and NGOs around the world
in packaging deals that will meet DCA requirements for development
impact, economic rationale, and financial viability. Our more
innovative deal structures have included: pooled municipal
bond financing, social franchise financing, private-public
partnership cooperation, and global microfinance lending.
Credit Risk Analysis
On occasion, TCGI has provided credit risk analysis support
for ODC for deals that we have not structured in the project
development phase. We have evaluated borrowers and lenders
on their credit worthiness and helped restructuring deals
to manage the agency’s credit risk. The company, in
fact, was in integral part in establishing credit risk policy
for DCA, which resulted in publication of the Credit Assessment
Handbook. In addition, we play in an active role in risk premium
re-estimates given our monitoring responsibilities. The firm
has assisted ODC in evaluating and monitoring the cost of
the DCA program worldwide.
Monitoring
TCGI works extensively with ODC in monitoring the DCA program
worldwide. We provide backstopping for monitoring the performance
of guarantees, processing of claims, tracking of payments,
and general managing the ODC database. Our monitoring role
will grow as USAID, DevIS, and TCGI are implementing a new
Internet-based database system to track new guarantees. In
addition to providing backstopping support, the company has
also been active in making biennial portfolio reviews on behalf
of USAID to ensure the guarantees are being properly utilized.
Communications Support
We also provide extensive communications support to ODC. We
have taken a lead role in developing many ODC publications,
workshops, and training sessions. Our publications have included
numerous DCA brochures, operation and instruction guides,
annual reports, portfolio reports, and presentations. We also
assist the office in organizing and hosting seminars and training
sessions for Missions, contractors, and other interested parties
in the US and elsewhere.
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