I wrote a few days ago about the power of micro-finance, and the work done by Kiva, and my attention was caught tonight by a recent article in Fast Company magazine about the British Army using venture-funding and micro-finance to nurture start-ups in Iraq.

The article features Captain Stephen Morte who was, until he he finished his recent tour of duty, stationed in Basra. The population there is 2 million, and unemployment is 25% - so if you don't somehow generate employment then people will be tempted by the incentives offered by the militia.

So, rather than award big contracts to international firms to do reconstruction work, Captain Morte has campaigned to provide the funding to help local entrepreneurs set up in business.

The article gives the example of Fadil, who Captain Morte helped to secure a $56,000 contract to rebuild an orphanage. Fadil now employs around 40 people a day.

There are other examples of how amounts large and small are helping to kick-start small Iraqi enterprises, restoring local pride, and building a bond between local people and the British Army.

This is a sustainable strategy that has created around 20,000 jobs so far that will still put food on the table when the British Army pulls out. And these successes have led to bigger plans - some of Captain Morte's colleagues are working on an $8 million plan to revive the Date farming industry in the region - providing a further 10,000 long term jobs.

In amongst all the bad news we hear from Iraq, it's great to read about some common sense, and thoughtful strategy - and above all see that somebody cares.