1.   Iraqi Women Economic Empowerment (IWEE)

1.1         Context

Iraq has experienced significant challenges over the past two decades due to waves of conflict and violence. Its economy relies heavily on the oil sector, public employment is oversaturated and unemployment remains high, particularly among women and displaced populations. Entrepreneurship is largely informal and unsupported by the financial sector: 68% of the labour force is engaged in informal work, and women are estimated to own only 5% of very small businesses and none of the medium-sized enterprises. Empowering women entrepreneurs is therefore crucial for Iraq’s socio-economic development, stability and social cohesion.

The Iraqi Women Economic Empowerment (IWEE) project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) with a total budget of EUR 10 million and implemented by Expertise France, aims to support the economic empowerment of women in Iraq by fostering the creation and development of businesses run by them. The project is structured around three components: (1) support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem; (2) support for the creation of micro-enterprises by women; and (3) assistance in developing existing women-led businesses.

1.2         Program objectives and priorities

This call for projects seeks to support Iraqi women entrepreneurs through grants to civil society organisations (CSOs).

The overall objective of this call for projects is to contribute to the economic empowerment of women in Iraq.

The specific objectives of this call for projects correspond to three lots.

Applicants must choose to apply under one of the following lots:

• Lot 1: to support the creation of micro-enterprises founded by women[1] (ideation/creation/pre-seed stage);
• Lot 2: to support existing businesses founded and managed by women[2] looking to develop their economic activities (pre-acceleration/acceleration stage);
• Lot 3: to support both micro-enterprises founded by women and existing businesses founded and managed by women.

Regardless of the lot, all projects must also aim to strengthen the women entrepreneurial ecosystem in Iraq.

Priorities: projects supporting women-led businesses with a focus on technology, agriculture and climate-friendly practices will be considered positively under criterion 1.4 of the concept note evaluation grid (“added value”).

1.3         Total amount of financial support made available by Expertise France

The indicative total amount made available under this call for projects is EUR 5,250,000. Expertise France reserves the right not to allocate all of the available funds.

Grant amounts

Any request for a grant under this call for projects must lay between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

minimum amount: EUR 200,000;

maximum amount: EUR 350,000.

This amount should cover all the costs of the action, including financial support to third parties (see 2.1.3).

Co-financing percentage

The grant can cover up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project.

However, up to 40% co-financing (from sources other than AFD or Expertise France) can be provided by the applicant. Cases of co-financing will be considered positively in the evaluation of the proposal. The structure of the co-funding will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with the selected applicants should the case arise.

1.4         Awarding of grants for similar projects

By way of derogation from the grant award procedures (see point 3.4 of the Call for Projects Guide issued by Expertise France), Expertise France may award an additional grant contract via direct allocation for the implementation of a similar project to one of the successful applicants designated on conclusion of this call for projects.

Where such a contract is placed by Expertise France, the period during which new contracts may be entered into may not exceed 2 years from notification of the initial grant contract.



For further information, detailed guidance on the application and proposal submission procedures, as well as access to all relevant supporting documentation, kindly refer to the link provided below:

https://pops.expertisefrance.fr/sdm/ent2/gen/ficheCsl.action?PCSLID=CSL_2026_aIyY-k8V31

Information Sessions Schedule:

Please note that information sessions regarding this Call for Proposals will be held in three locations from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM:

• Basrah: November 9, 2026 – Zenat Al-Hayat Hotel - Basra, Al-Bradhiya

• Baghdad: November 12, 2026 – Institut Français d'Irak (French Institute) - – Abu Nawas Street 

• Erbil: November 16, 2026 – Location to be confirmed

Note: Any updates regarding unconfirmed venue locations will be posted here as soon as they are finalized.

Call's Files

https://pops.expertisefrance.fr/sdm/ent2/gen/ficheCsl.action?PCSLID=CSL_2026_aIyY-k8V31