Contracting party: Enabel
Funded By: Enabel – the Belgium Development Agency
Partner Organization: The Jerusalem High Tech Foundry (JHF)
Starting Date: July 2024
Ending Date: September 2026
The “Supporting Jerusalemite Women Towards Sustainable Micro- or Small Businesses” project, in partnership with Enabel and the Applied Research Institute (ARIJ) – Jerusalem, aims to empower young Palestinian women in East Jerusalem through sustainable employment and entrepreneurship. By providing targeted business development support, the project strives to increase the income-generating capacities of 80 unemployed women, guiding them in developing viable business plans, while 40 of these women will receive further assistance to launch sustainable micro- or small businesses.
This initiative addresses persistent gender discrimination and socioeconomic barriers faced by women in East Jerusalem, where only 24% of Arab women participate in the workforce. The project’s intervention logic is to bridge these gaps by fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that enables young women to thrive in decent work conditions or as self-employed business owners, aligned with sustainable and green practices.
Focusing on income-generating businesses, home-based business models, and green/digital sectors like eco-tourism, organic farming, and digital services, this project supports economic resilience and environmental sustainability. The Jerusalem High Tech Foundry (JHF) joins as a co-applicant, equipping women with digital skills in fields such as data analytics and software development, aligning their competencies with market needs.
Ultimately, this project contributes to SDGs 5 and 8, aligning with Enabel’s goals of advancing gender equality, decent work, and economic growth, and fostering a supportive ecosystem for women-led businesses in East Jerusalem.