SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN IRAQ
PROVINCES
Nationwide
LIFE OF ACTIVITY
Ongoing from 2003
OVERVIEW
USAID partners with the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to modernize its economy and accelerate climate adaptation, tackle water scarcity, and address Iraq’s reliance on an oil industry that provides 85% of government revenues.
GOALS
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Fostering and Enabling Business Environment: USAID provides financing, expert advice, and business support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including farmers, to create jobs, improve business competitiveness, and encourage investment in SMEs. USAID worked with other donors and financial institutions to create the first informal platform to facilitate financing and share new funding opportunities for SMEs working in technology, trade, and industry. USAID partners with the GOI and KRG to develop policies that strengthen SMEs, modernize government administration, promote transparency, and develop the banking sector.
Promoting Environmental Resilience: USAID is helping Iraq move toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by adopting new technologies to help the agriculture sector operate more efficiently and sustainably. USAID assists farmers in rural areas to access renewable and more reliable energy to decrease GHG emissions, lower costs, and improve livelihoods. USAID supported Iraq to establish the National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan to help public institutions apply mitigation measures to decrease GHG emissions and increase the use of renewable resources.
IMPACT
A small-business database helped the GOI and KRG Ministries of Planning develop roadmaps to strengthen the private sector.
Support services to over 10,000 entrepreneurs (including about 5,000 women) to set up, formalize, and scale their businesses.
Approximately 3,000 business grants and loans provided since 2019, creating thousands of jobs and achieving more than a 65% increase in business revenue.
Approximately 7,500 youth received business development services.
Over $41 million in private investments, $15 million in direct loans, and an $85 million business lending program from private banks.
Over $7 million of in-kind assistance to local SMEs: 80% increase in sales and more than 5,000 new jobs.
About $2.9 million in revenues generated by local innovators selling drip irrigation, modern soil testing, and farming equipment to approximately 12,500 smallholder farmers and other small agri-businesses, producing more than 45,000 tons of food.
