The project is delivered in two phases. The expected development impact of phase 2 (July 2021 - December 2022) is improved firm-level practices and policies aimed at increasing the share and retention of women in pay-roll employment and/or improving the quality of women’s pay-roll jobs in the private sector in Iraq. This will happen through firm-level women’s employment advisory to the two winners of the “Thinking Forward” company competition from Phase 1. By the completion of Phase 2, the two firms are expected to implement the recommendations in the company-wide action plan prepared by the project and thereby increase their capacity to recruit, retain and/or promote women in their workforce, and/or advance their careers, thereby improving the workplace environment. The expected development impact of phase 1 (June 2020 - June 2021) is 1) an increased share of women in pay-roll employment and improved quality of women’s pay-roll jobs in the private sector in Iraq. By completion, knowledge activities (i.e. case studies, webinars) and recommendations will have been delivered. Of the firms reached, they are expected to participate in a virtual awards company competition, in order to ensure companies trained have retained the information delivered to them, and that they showcase commitments to implement gender parity at their organization levels. Of these companies, some are expected to implement at least one activity of the project proposal, and 2 are expected to win the competition and implement their commitments with advisory support from the project team. Any of IFC ‘s clients will be invited to join. 2) the creation and growth of women-led early stage start-ups. By completion, it is expected that at least 2 incubators and/or accelerators have implemented recommended changes from their gender action plans and delivered training to women-led start-ups. It is further expected that as a result, at least 30 women-led startups will be reached with training. By completion, some of those start-ups will report increased knowledge and skills related to strategies to access business assets due to the training. By completion, women-led start-ups are also expected to have implemented recommended changes as a result of the training (i.e. prepared better business plans, pitched to investors applying the knowledge and skills they have learned).