IRAQ DURABLE COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FY2022, QUARTER 3 (APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2022)

The report was prepared by Chemonics International Inc. The Business Competitiveness and Job Creation Initiative (BCJCI) is a key component of the DCEO program. The initiative aims to improve business competitiveness and job creation in Iraq. BCJCI focuses on firm-level assistance, client growth plans, assistance delivery, and entrepreneurship development. Firm-level assistance includes providing support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their competitiveness and access to finance. Client growth plans are developed in collaboration with SMEs to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies for growth. Assistance delivery involves providing training and capacity-building programs to SMEs, as well as facilitating access to finance and markets. Entrepreneurship development is another key area of focus for BCJCI. The initiative includes the Incubator for Creators, which provides resources and support to entrepreneurs, and Acceleration Services, which provides mentorship and coaching to entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Ignite programs also provide training and support to entrepreneurs. The 100 Solutions for Stability program is another key component of the DCEO program. The program aims to address community-level challenges and promote stability in Iraq. Community Problem-Solving Dialogue is a key component of the program, which brings together community members to identify and address challenges. The Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund is also a key component of the DCEO program. The fund provides support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable populations in Iraq. One-to-One Business Support and Entrepreneurship Circles are also part of the program, which provide support to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The report also highlights the importance of learning and evaluation in the DCEO program. The Most Significant Change methodology is used to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The report also includes a performance indicator tracking table, which provides a summary of progress against established objectives. The report also highlights the importance of access to finance in promoting economic growth and job creation in Iraq. The Access to Finance Conference was held during the quarter, which brought together stakeholders to discuss access to finance in Iraq. Grants were also issued during the quarter to support small business owners and entrepreneurs. The report also highlights the importance of community engagement and participation in promoting stability and economic growth in Iraq. Community Business Groups and WorkWell are two initiatives that aim to promote community engagement and participation. The report also highlights the importance of value chain assessments in promoting economic growth and job creation in Iraq. Value Chain Assessments were conducted during the quarter to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies for growth. The report also highlights the importance of learning and adaptation in promoting economic growth and job creation in Iraq. Lessons learned and planned adaptations are highlighted in the report, which provide a summary of progress and areas for improvement. The report also includes a comparison of accomplishments to established objectives, which provides a summary of progress against established goals. The report also includes annexes, which provide additional information on performance indicators, client growth plans, grants issued, public events, environmental compliance, lessons learned, and planned adaptations.