About Aid Gate Organization “AGO”

Aid Gate Organization (AGO) is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization in Iraq whose history goes back to 2014 with the beginning of ISIL’s occupation in Iraq. At that time and throughout the mass conflicts occurring from 2014 onwards, ISIL groups took control of large swathes of the country, including Nineveh, Salah al-Din, Anbar, and parts of Diyala. This period witnessed an unprecedented wave of displacement for people who lived in these areas in addition to extreme human rights violations. With the Iraqi government, unable to provide much-needed, widespread assistance, many international organizations entered the country to facilitate a response. In doing so, local community members were actively recruited to assist in the movement and return of displaced people, while providing them with emergency life-saving assistance to meet their basic needs. Since 2014, AGO has been working untiringly to help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host communities for the implementation of whole-of-community resilience-building measures in Iraq. Today AGO is functional in Salah al-Din, Kirkuk, and the Nineveh governorates, with 50–150 employees, depending on the situation in the region. We are currently working on expanding our operations into the Anbar governorate as well as southern Iraq through proven programs to rebuild the lives of men, women, children, refugees IDPs, minorities, ethnic groups, and persons with disabilities.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Aid Gate Organization is seeking an experienced and driven MSME coach to guide participants with disabilities in developing their businesses. This role involves delivering targeted coaching, business development support, and capacity-building sessions to help participants establish sustainable MSMEs that can improve their economic independence and quality of life.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development Training

• Provide hands-on coaching to participants, covering key aspects of business management, including financial literacy, bookkeeping, operational planning and customer service.
• Develop and adapt training materials to be accessible and relevant to participants with varying levels of education and experience.
• Deliver interactive sessions on basic business concepts, budgeting, customer service, and cash flow management.

Entrepreneurial Support and Guidance

• Work closely with participants to develop individualized business plans and set achievable goals.
• Support participants in identifying viable business opportunities within the local market, tailoring approaches to their unique abilities and circumstances.
• Provide ongoing mentorship to address business challenges, improve decision-making, and foster long-term business sustainability.

Market Linkage and Networking

• Facilitate connections between participants and local suppliers, vendors, and potential customers.
• Assist participants in identifying relevant market opportunities and establishing customer bases within their communities.
• Collaborate with community stakeholders to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about the capabilities of MSME owners with disabilities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Track participants’ progress and business growth, documenting success stories, challenges, and areas for improvement.
• Conduct pre-and post-training assessments to evaluate business skills development and overall program impact.
• Prepare regular reports on participant engagement and outcomes, providing insights to inform future programming.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in business coaching, MSME support, or entrepreneurship, ideally within an NGO or development setting.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities or marginalized populations is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of business management principles, particularly as they apply to micro and small enterprises.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a compassionate, patient approach to coaching.
• Ability to adapt teaching materials and methods to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Fluent in Arabic; English proficiency is an asset.
• Willingness to travel locally to support participants in their business environments and flexibility to adapt to program needs.