Empowering Solar Energy SMEs and Youth Employment in Iraq
In a remarkable collaboration, CINOP recently visited Rwanga Foundation in Erbil, Iraq, to start the training activities in the project “Unlocking Growth: Support for solar energy Small Medium Enterprises s (SMEs) to create job opportunities for youth and women.” This initiative aims to increase the entrepreneuril, technical, and business development skills of SMEs operating in the solar energy sector in Northern Iraq. The primary focus is on training both existing employees and unemployed youth with a technical background and aspirations in the sector. This initiative aims to stimulates the growth of SMEs and youth employment rates, contributing to private sector development in Iraq’s solar energy sector (green economy).
Training initiatives:
To achieve the project’s objectives, CINOP and Rwanga Foundation have designed training programs tailored to the specific needs of SMEs and aspiring youth in the solar energy sector. The training for SMEs is to improve their business, while the youth undergo a job readiness training program and an internship.
SME training topics:
Last week, participants from SMEs engaged in solar energy training, focusing on topics essential for their further development.
The key topics covered included:
- Entrepreneurship mindset
- Entrepreneurship practical
- Sales skills (Peer Learning Day)
- Project management
- How to work on tenders
- Risk Management
- Communication skills and Marketing concepts
In addition to the training conducted last week, the time was also used to advance preparations for the Job Readiness Training (JRT) and the upcoming internship programs that will be organized in the following weeks.
The program is funded by The Netherlands Ministery of Foreign Affairs and managed by NUFFIC.
