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.

  1. Strengthen the awareness, skills and abilities of young people, especially young women, to access the job market also using non-traditional and emerging sectors
  2. Increase the incomes of young people, and in particular women, through self-employment in sectors such as business, social enterprise and development enterprise
  3. Create an environment conducive to the economic empowerment of young people, with particular reference to the job market.

Updated: 22/08/2022