Support to business development service providers in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil within the Project Private Sector Development (PSD)
Economic and Regional Development
Client: GIZ
Period: 07.2019-02.2020
Country: Iraq
Context
The Iraqi oil-based economy is not very diversified and highly dependent on its exports. Iraq does not provide the necessary infrastructure for a business environment that enables MSMEs to thrive. Business associations and chambers that are currently in place are rarely seen as service providers. Especially MSMEs are often not officially registered, thus struggle to survive. In this economy, many young Iraqis do not find employment.
Project description
The GIZ Private Sector Development (PSD) project supports efforts by the Iraqi Government to foster employment promotion by focusing on regulatory reform to attract private sector investments and by enabling business associations to provide (improved) business development services for existing Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and start-ups.
Unemployment hits all young Iraqis in a similar way. Nevertheless, PSD focusses on disadvantaged groups, specifically young women and returning refugees who often lack even basic skills that are needed by private sector companies.
Services
The specific activities are performed in the three intervention areas: Baghdad, Basra and Erbil.
Our assignment comprises:
- Content development and course design:
- Development of standardized curriculum of modularized BDS training material for MSME
- Adaptation of curriculum modules according to the specific MSME landscape and market demands
- M&E conception and continuous monitoring of activities and indicators
- Capacity-building of BDS service providers, creation of training materials and trainings of trainers (ToT):
- Preparation, coordination and implementation of BDS workshops, incl. development of a BDS portfolio (covering elements like market access, infrastructure development, financing and legal advice)
- Delivery of ToT sessions
- Support to the business associations and complete BDS training for MSME:
- Support the partner business associations with marketing advisory services to potential clients
- Mentoring of the trainers for the delivery of trainings
- Delivery of session with MSME covering complete BDS portfolio