Iraqi Women Economic Empowerment

In Iraq, the participation of women in the business sector is extremely low, with only 5% of very small enterprises owned by women and no medium-sized enterprises. They come up against major barriers, including limited access to financing, cultural barriers, and generally lower levels of education.

The Iraqi Women Economic Empowerment project aims to improve the economic empowerment of women in Iraq by facilitating the creation and development of businesses run by women.

The project is based on three main lines of action:

• Support for the creation of microenterprises by women: this component includes training to develop essential skills in management, accounting, and the use of technologies. Financial support will also be provided for the purchase of equipment and the initial salaries
• Assistance for the development of existing enterprises: these activities will aim to strengthen the capacities of companies run by women, by providing technical advice and financial support to help these companies develop over the long term
• Support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem: the project includes capacity building activities for stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the promotion of networks, study visits, and awareness-raising activities. Campaigns will also be conducted to change cultural perceptions and promote women’s entrepreneurship

The project comprises a comprehensive study on the entrepreneurial landscape in Iraq, with a focus on the specific financing needs of women entrepreneurs and the barriers they face. Following this study, a charter for economic support for women will be developed, defining the principles and specifics of the project.

The rules for the calls for proposals will also be established, specifying the eligibility criteria and evaluation methods. Expertise France will subsequently select a number of civil society organisations to respond to these calls. Monitoring will be organised to evaluate the impact of the project and adjust the operations accordingly.

The Iraqi Women Economic Empowerment project aims to support at least 800 projects of women entrepreneurs, for both the creation of new companies and the development of existing companies. It aims to create a more inclusive and dynamic environment for women  entrepreneurs in Iraq by promoting success stories and facilitating access to financing.

The expected impact includes a significant increase in the number of businesses run by women, an improvement in their economic performance, and greater social acceptance of women’s entrepreneurship.