2012, IESC won a $105 million award to support certain key sectors of the economy in Afghanistan, the organization's largest-ever award. The project is a collaboration between IESC and the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) and is called the Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises (ABADE) Program. ABADE aims to enable Afghan entrepreneurs to grow successful businesses by providing technical assistance, business consulting, and facilitating public-private partnerships. In Lebanon, IESC administers the USAID-funded Lebanon Investment in Microfinance Program (LIM) program to help small business owners apply for micro-loans to expand their businesses. Established in May 2009, IESC's LIM program had awarded grants of over $8m to Lebanese microfinance institutions by October 2014, which in turn had disbursed a total value of over $27m across 12,00 micro loans. As a result, the program has supported nearly 19,000 jobs and created nearly 3,000 positions, of which around 45% have been filled by women. In Ethiopia, IESC has implemented six USAID programs since 2004 designed to increase exports, strengthen institutions, and promote access to finance. In Tunisia, IESC administers a project that helps local entrepreneurs tap international trade opportunities through an online platform. In Mali, volunteers from IESC's Geekcorps built or refurbished radio stations on the edges of the Saharan desert, helping to deliver internet access to remote parts of the country. In Morocco, IESC has implemented the Morocco Commercial Development Organization Support Program which seeks to assist commercial development organizations by facilitating access to capital and export markets. In Liberia, IESC implements the USAID's Liberia Investing for Business Expansion (IBEX) Program by providing advice, mentoring and facilitating bank loans for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the construction, agriculture, general merchandise, and trade sectors. IBEX is helping to raise funds and conduct crisis mitigation training to help local businesses to cope with the disruptive effects of the Ebola virus. In 2013, IESC began a project with the AARP and the Chinese government to deploy senior business executive leaders as volunteer experts to China. IESC celebrated its 50th anniversary at a reception in May 2014. References External links IESC Website Focus Washington interview with Ambassador Miller, September 12, 2014 Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. 1964 establishments in Washington, D.C. Organizations established in 1964