Izdihar-Sustainable Microfinance

Sustainable Microfinance

The program’s sustainable microfinance strategies are designed to help build a non-bank financial industry in Iraq that will provide loans to small businesses, women-owned firms, and individuals in order to enhance economic growth and development.

Implementation activities currently underway include:

Grants to Microfinance Institutions
Making multi-million dollar grants available to eligible organizations and companies for development of a sustainable microfinance industry in Iraq. Grants help to support operational costs and no-interest loans provide capital to qualifying institutions. The microfinance institutions created under this grant program will provide loans to small and medium enterprises, women-owned businesses, agricultural enterprises and other entrepreneurs who will create jobs throughout the country.

Start-up Technical Assistance
Providing technical assistance to Iraqi business associations and business centers to start up new, independent microfinance institutions.

Best Practice Training
Conducting consecutive CGAP courses for the employees of microfinance institutions doing business in Iraq, thereby building the management capacity of existing microfinance institutions and enabling them to become independent of international advisors and donor subsidies.

In-Country Microfinance Training
Conducting intensive in-country microfinance management training programs for founders, board members and executive staff of new, indigenous Iraqi microfinance institutions.

Internationally Recognized Microfinance Training
Sponsoring students who wish to attend three- to four-week international microfinance training programs offered in the US, Europe and the Middle East.