Become a mentor in DIRWENA and support sustainable agriculture in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mentor with DIRWENA in KRI: Empower Farmers & Support Organizations

DIRWENA program aims to bring together experienced professionals and local agricultural actors to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture sector in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

The program is an integrated support initiative that aims to build resilience in the agriculture sector of KRI. Through technical and financial capacity strengthening for 50 smallholder farmers and microenterprises, alongside 20 business support organizations and farmer cooperatives, the program establishes a support infrastructure that contributes to greater social cohesion within the region’s farming communities and agricultural value chains.

As a DIRWENA mentor, you will support smallholder farmers, rural microenterprises, Business Support Organizations (BSOs), and farmer cooperatives by sharing your expertise, guiding their growth, and contributing to the strengthening of agricultural value chains across Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and Duhok.

Why mentor with DIRWENA?

Contribute your expertise where it creates real impact

Support smallholder farmers, rural microenterprises, and agricultural support organizations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to strengthen livelihoods, improve productivity, and build long-term resilience across local value chains.

Use your professional expertise in agriculture and agribusiness

Share your skills in farming practices, agribusiness management, finance, and market access through hands-on mentoring that addresses real challenges faced by agricultural actors on the ground.

Gain regional insight and agricultural market knowledge

Develop a deep understanding of the agriculture sector in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, while building cross-cultural mentoring experience and sector-specific knowledge in rural development and food systems.

Become part of a strong regional network

Connect with agricultural experts, development practitioners, farmers, cooperatives, and support organizations across KRI to expand your professional network in sustainable agriculture and rural entrepreneurship.

Engage in a structured and supported mentoring program

Participate in interactive mentoring activities, including bootcamps, expert consultations, field engagements, and networking events as part of an integrated initiative that promotes social cohesion, inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.

Get integrated into enpact’s expert database

Become part of enpact’s international network of +1100 impact-driven professionals working in entrepreneurship, agriculture, and inclusive economic development.

Program Timeline

19 Jan 2026

Sign-ups open

2 Feb 2026

Selection & onboarding

Feb 2026

1st Kickoff Bootcamp

April 2026

2nd Kickoff Bootcamp

April - July 2026

Mentoring & field engagement

August 2026

Sustainability Bootcamp

Is DIRWENA the right project for you?

We’re looking for experienced professionals with:

Practical, hands-on experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or agricultural value chains;
Proven expertise in mentoring, advisory services, or capacity building for smallholder farmers, rural microenterprises, Business Support Organizations, or farmer cooperatives;
Sector-specific knowledge aligned with DIRWENA’s focus areas, including sustainable agriculture practices, agribusiness management, agricultural finance, or market access;
Familiarity with cross-cultural environments, international development projects, agricultural systems, and rural development in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and/or with the willingness to provide on-site mentoring, including field visits in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja;
Ideally, Kurdish-speaking (Sorani and/or Badini) and/or Arabic-speaking, with the ability to engage effectively with local farming communities

You can always email us at dirwena@enpact.org to receive support with your application within 24 hours of your request. Please note that this is the only official support channel for the DIRWENA program and the only way to guarantee a timely response.

How does the process work?

Take a look through the steps to find out how to join DIRWENA as a mentor.

Sign up

Become a DIRWENA mentor by filling out our online application form. Share your background, expertise, and motivation for supporting agricultural communities in KRI. Make sure to upload your CV and include your LinkedIn profile. If you’ve mentored before, feel free to share testimonials or references of your past mentoring experiences.
Confirm your availability

After reviewing your application, the team will reach out to confirm your availability for the project and answer any open questions. If your profile doesn’t match the project needs, you will be notified within two weeks after the application deadline.
Join the mentor kick-off meeting

Once your participation is confirmed, you’ll be invited to an online mentoring kick-off session in February 2026. This session connects the project’s mentors, aligns expectations, and prepares you for the project requirements, in terms of deliverables and reporting.

Mentor with DIRWENA

Share your expertise to support the growth of the agricultural market in KRI

Program partners

Developed and implemented by the non-profit organization enpact, the DIRWENA program is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and commissioned by the Federal Republic of Germany.