Microfinance for Iraq! Now why didn't we think of that!

February 28, 2006

As Iraq descends into civil war, USAID has enlisted Women for Women International, an NGO, to run a microfinance project. They are now advertising for a “Microfinance Project Director” for Iraq.

The Microfinance Project Director will be responsible for overall planning and management of microfinance activities with the goal of increasing access and improving outreach to socially excluded women and female entrepreneurs in Iraq and building a sustainable microfinance institution in Iraq over the next five years.

It’s hard to know whether to laugh or cry. Don’t the people who put this in motion read the newspapers? It's like some kind of horrible inside joke. (On the other hand, maybe this says something important about the faith that some people have in microfinance!). I wonder how much microfinance demand there is in the Green Zone?

Disclaimer

CGD blog posts reflect the views of the authors, drawing on prior research and experience in their areas of expertise. CGD is a nonpartisan, independent organization and does not take institutional positions.