Overview

The goal of the USAID funded Business Incubator and Employment Program (BIEP) program is to promote stability and economic development in minority groups in Ninewa by increasing business and employment opportunities.

Activities

• Conducted outreach campaigns to increase interest in entrepreneurship and careers in the private sector.

• Delivered training and capacity building in both technical and soft skills that will help beneficiaries start businesses and become more competitive in the job market.

• Conducted a series of capacity-building workshops and training sessions aimed at enhancing business skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial acumen among minority groups.

• Connected emerging entrepreneurs with seasoned business professionals and mentors who provided guidance on business strategy, market insights, and networking.

• Offered shared resources such as office space, internet access, and administrative services to startups and entrepreneurs, reducing their initial overhead costs.

• Organized pitching sessions for businesses to present their ideas and provided selective seed funding and grants to promising ventures.

• Hosted regular networking events and meetups to facilitate collaboration, partnership opportunities, and the exchange of ideas among local businesses.

• Assisted startups in conducting market research, understanding local demographics, and identifying gaps in the market that their businesses could address.

Results

• The services delivered by the Top Mountain business incubator supported over 400 beneficiaries from the private sector as well as NGOs, helping them to access economic opportunities and enhancing technical and soft skills.

• Assisted numerous startups and established businesses in scaling their operations, leading to increased revenue and profitability.

• The support given to businesses and NGOs contributed to the creation of new job opportunities, reducing unemployment rates among the beneficiary communities.

• Beneficiaries reported marked improvement in both technical and soft skills, making them more competitive in their respective sectors.