Quarterly Report: Business Incubator and Employment Program (BIEP)

The project focuses on achieving three objectives: promoting interest in entrepreneurship and careers in the private sector, building capacity in technical and soft skills, and building professional networks that increase business and employment opportunities for minorities. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented several challenges for BIEP, including classroom bans, stay-home quarantines, and movement restrictions. In response, Top Mountain implemented a business continuity strategy that involves training staff on personal protective equipment, disinfecting offices, and using online platforms for training. As a result, the program has the ability to operate at full capacity and has a robust online training capability. During this quarter, BIEP delivered training and mentoring to over 328 beneficiaries in employability skills, ICT, and entrepreneurship and management using an online delivery approach. The program also expanded its presence on social media, with over 30,000 followers. Top Mountain worked closely with the USAID Agreement Office Representative and Agreements Officer to modify project milestones and payment schedules to reflect the shift to online delivery and challenges presented by COVID-19. The program has continued to meet and exceed most of the performance targets despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. Thanks to the ongoing support from USAID and the resiliency of the BIEP team, the program is in an excellent position to complete all of the original milestones and performance targets and begin focusing on the business accelerator and grant program. The program has completed several milestones, including producing strategy and planning documents, setting up the Erbil Training Center, recruiting staff, and conducting capacity building training. The program has also completed training and mentoring to over 328 beneficiaries in employability skills, ICT, and entrepreneurship and management. The program has also made progress in conducting Train the Trainer (ToT) for ICT training and entrepreneurship and management training, and has designed applications and interview questions for the Business Accelerator grants. The program has also completed the second round of training for ICT skills training and has set up online training platforms, online evaluation forms, and online registration forms. The program has also made progress in completing the third round of training for entrepreneurship and management training, and has set up online training platforms, online evaluation forms, and online registration forms. The program has also completed the fourth round of training for employability skills training and has set up online training platforms, online evaluation forms, and online registration forms. The program has also made progress in conducting pre and post tests for ICT, employability skills, and entrepreneurship and management training. The program has also made progress in setting up a grants program and Business Accelerator. The program has also made progress in expanding its presence on social media, with over 30,000 followers. The program has also made progress in working closely with the USAID Agreement Office Representative and Agreements Officer to modify project milestones and payment schedules to reflect the shift to online delivery and challenges presented by COVID-19. The program has also made progress in completing the fifteenth round of training for employability skills training and has set up online training platforms, online evaluation forms, and online registration forms. The program has also made progress in completing the sixteenth round of training for ICT skills training and has