This video showcases the success of the ILO in empowering Iraqi women entrepreneurs by providing them with essential skills and financial support, transforming their lives and creating a ripple effect of opportunity and resilience across communities. 

Women in the Mina region of Iraq face significant socio-economic challenges, including systemic barriers to entering the labour market, with only one in ten participating – one of the lowest rates globally. To address this, the ILO partnered with the Lutheran World Federation in northern Iraq, providing more than 1,200 young women there with skills in finance, business management and social cohesion to support enterprise development in more inclusive communities. In addition, the ILO, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Iraq, introduced a tailored financial product used by more than 300 female entrepreneurs, addressing challenges such as training, Sharia compliance and seasonal repayment. These efforts have enabled women to become role models in their communities, with some of them training and employing younger women, creating opportunities and driving long-term social change.

Find out more about the PROSPECTS programme’s wider learning on gender and disability inclusion.