Background 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) commissioned a gender-sensitive assessment of Iraq’s business enabling environment, anchored in the ILO’s EESE framework and informed by guidance for fragile and conflict-affected contexts as well as the WED assessment methodology. The study situated enterprise development within broader conditions of peace, governance, social dialogue, and decent work, with a specific focus on barriers and opportunities for women entrepreneurs. It responded to persistent private-sector constraints—including heavy oil dependence, limited diversification, weak institutions, and security risks—by identifying policy directions that promoted MSME productivity, formalisation, and gender equity. The assessment generated a rigorous evidence base, with sex-disaggregated analysis, to support reforms that were feasible in Iraq’s fragile context.

Triangle’s Assignment

• Triangle’s assignment was to deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment and support policy prioritisation. The work covered:
• Producing a gender-responsive diagnostic of the enabling environment for sustainable enterprises;
• Examining bottlenecks and solutions in priority policy areas identified with ILO constituents;
• Contributing to policy dialogue through an ILO-led validation workshop and a revised reform agenda.

Fieldwork included desk research, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and an enterprise survey designed and implemented in agreement with the ILO.

Research Approach & Methodology 

• Mixed-Methods Assessment: Combined desk review, stakeholder consultations, and enterprise-level data collection across selected governorates to appraise constraints and opportunities for MSMEs.
• Conceptual Frameworks: Applied the EESE pillars alongside the WED methodology and the ILO’s guidance for fragile contexts to ensure a robust, gender-responsive analytical lens.
• Conflict-Sensitive Design: Integrated a Peace and Conflict Analysis and ensured that data collection processes were sensitive to identity, gender, and vulnerability dynamics.
• Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: Conducted KIIs and FGDs with employers’ and workers’ organisations and other national stakeholders; ensured women’s participation at each step, including at least one FGD with women business owners or managers.
• Gender-Responsive Evidence: Generated sex-disaggregated findings; examined gendered barriers (e.g., finance, land, education, networks) and elevated women’s voices in policy dialogue.
• Analytical Scope: Assessed macroeconomic conditions; legal and regulatory frameworks; access to finance; trade and investment; skills and productivity; decent work and responsible business conduct; environmental sustainability; and conflict/disaster risks—covered both general enterprise dynamics and specific issues faced by women.
• Validation & Policy Prioritisation: Presented findings to stakeholders in an ILO-organised validation workshop and submitted a refined policy reform agenda based on feedback.
• Recommendations & Follow-Up: Identified actionable, peace-responsive and gender-responsive policy options; where relevant, facilitated participatory research and capacity-building with social partners to unlock priority regulatory barriers.