Social innovation for economic resilience in the West Bank
The project "Social innovation to fight youth unemployment and increase the economic resilience of the communities of Area C of the West Bank", aims to contribute to the reduction of the unemployment rate of young Palestinians by improving their economic conditions, in particular that of women in 8 communities of the Governorates of Hebron and Bethlehem.
In Hebron, Abda & Imrishm, Al Fawar refugee camp, Arab al Fureijat, As Samou' and Hebron Old City will be affected, while in Bethlehem Beit Fajjar, Tuque and Wadi Nis.
The project leader is the non-profit organization ActionAid International Italia which will collaborate with the Municipality of Milan to provide job orientation, information sessions and training programs, support for young participants; furthermore, it will facilitate dialogue with local authorities and carry out investigations into the availability of resources by Palestinian companies for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship initiatives.
The main partners are:
- The municipality of Milan,
- Palestine Polytechnic University,
- Agility Management and Financial Consulting,
- CGM Cooperative (Gino Mattarelli Consortium).
The project lasted 36 months, from 1 March 2018 to 28 February 2021.
- Contribute to the reduction of the youth unemployment rate, improving their economic opportunities, especially of women, in 8 communities of the Governorates of Hebron and Bethlehem.
- Provide career guidance and information and awareness sessions (online and offline) and offer internships
- Training programs (English for business, IT and soft skills useful for employment)
- Technical-professional training programs
- Research/study and feasibility analysis on potential
- Events/competitions (call for ideas) for proposals from young potential entrepreneurs and social enterprises in collaboration with business incubators (Agility) and Italian partners (CGM, Municipality of Milan)
- Support for 16 young people for the creation/development of social enterprises that take care of the social needs of the communities in the Area
- Fact-finding survey on the availability of resources by Palestinian companies (startup funds, valorised resources, consultancy) for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship initiatives
- Collaboration between the local authorities of Bethlehem and Hebron and the Municipality of Milan to support "Invest in Palestine", with the aim of involving international private companies (including Italian) with a specific focus on IT companies and innovative start-ups
- Awareness campaigns against discriminatory practices towards the socio-economic empowerment of young women and other vulnerable categories / Collection and publication of success cases and good practices.
- Strengthen the awareness, skills and abilities of young people, especially young women, to access the job market also using non-traditional and emerging sectors
- Increase the incomes of young people, and in particular women, through self-employment in sectors such as business, social enterprise and development enterprise
- Create an environment conducive to the economic empowerment of young people, with particular reference to the job market.
Updated: 22/08/2022