FIELD Report No. 15: Creating Jobs and Economic Opportunities in Iraq
USAID priorities in Iraq have shifted toward enhancing economic opportunities and creating jobs for Iraqis with special emphasis on youth, women, and vulnerable populations. As a part of the planning process, USAID requested a review of its proposed technical approach for new programming as embodied in a preliminary concept paper. A review was carried out by a team from the FIELD-Support Leader with Associates, an established enterprise development and microfinance support project based in Washington, DC, in August and September 2012.
The purpose of the review was to address three broad questions:
- Is the USAID mission in Iraq focusing on the right problem in the concept paper?
- Is the mission proposing the right approaches?
- If not, what alternatives should USAID be pursuing to address “the problem” in this period of transition?
This paper reflects on and answers each of the three questions posed and provides analysis and recommendations for USAID on how they should approach future programming for economic opportunities and job creation.