Distribution of Small Grants to New and Existing Business in Baghdad .

The overall goal of the grant program is to equip would-be and current micro and small private sector enterprises with the means to produce and expand. The grant essentially provides an infusion of capital along with a plan of how to budget and execute a work plan which is part of the application process.

By providing this infusion of capital, a business will be able to expand or start up, providing employment to its owner in addition to a number of employees. In so doing, the employment generated by this program will move productive laborers and workers away from destructive activities or the temptation to engage in such activities towards actual production and means to generate a sustaining income.

Running parallel to the grant program, mentioned in point # 9, is a training program for grant applicants that have been essentially approved for the grant award. The idea behind this training program is to couple training with an injection of capital to ensure that the investment of material resources is equaled by an investment of intellectual and professional capacity development.

As we witness the transformation of Iraq from decades of neglect and totalitarianism into a free society based on freedom of expression, democracy, free trade and the rule of law, Iraq will require massive infusion of capital and investment in all fields and sectors from infrastructure to upgrading and training human capital to rebuild Iraq. Currently Baghdad, as the capital of a united Iraq, is ruled by a series of militias and splinter groups competing with legitimate police forces. Moreover, a large percentage of the police and Iraqi security forces are loyal to particular political currents and parties, untrusted by the majority of the Iraqi populace.

Right now Iraq is on the edge of the tipping point and Baghdad is the fulcrum. A slight push in the right direction could make the difference between plunge into civil war or slow but steady recovery of a society into stability.

There are many individuals who, given the opportunity, would gladly put their energies into building their country, but lack the sufficient initiative or basic capital to begin a project that could employ not only that person, but others as well. By providing simple encouragement in the form of a material “push” in the direction of economic activation through a small grant, small businesses will begin to form and expand, engaging individuals who are owners and employees of micro-small enterprises in productive activities. The alternative to these productive activities is destructive involvement in militia activities and/or non-participation taking the form of reclusion or fleeing the country altogether at a time when positive involvement in the economy has never been more needed.

Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Its Expertise
The Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) was established on May 9th, 2003 in Los Angeles, California, USA. The initial goal of the chamber has been to transfer the experience and facilitate the communication and networking between the Iraqi industrial and trading sectors and their counterparts from the rest of the world. IACCI has approximately 6000 Iraqi members, and 500 international members, who support the organization.

IACCI's primary mission is thus two-fold: A) the creation of new business through networking forums (like DBX Kurdistan Trade Show held in Sep., the Annual Investment Promotion Conference in Kurdistan held in March, foreign trade delegations to the US and other countries, etc.), and B) building the capacity of Iraqi businesses so as to be on equal footing with foreign counterparts (through technical assistance and training programs).

Since its foundation, building upon this original mission, IACCI has found itself in a capacity-development role, providing financial consulting services and training in many fields to its Iraqi members, as well as a trade-forum creation role, holding conferences and conducting international trade events on a regular basis.

IACCI training initiatives are well-known in Baghdad and throughout other parts of Iraq in which IACCI operates as “TADRIB Iraq” – Training and Development Resources Initiative for Business in Iraq. TADRIB Iraq’s overarching goal is to provide “training and development for all Iraqis that leads to increased employability and overall economic growth.”

Program Methodology
Program Goals and Objectives / Target Recipients / Locations / Suggested Grant Application and Award Procedure / Training