CARE Canada

Published purpose

This project seeks to create an enabling entrepreneurship ecosystem for low-income women and youth in West Bank and Gaza. Inspired by the concept of Obader (Arabic for ‘I initiate’), the project aims to reduce structural and social barriers to entrepreneurship, while simultaneously working to increase business opportunities for women and youth to successfully start-up, sustain, manage and grow environmentally conscious and sustainable businesses. Project activities include: (1) designing and delivering a media campaign to raise and challenge perceptions and attitudes towards women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship, and women in non-traditional enterprises and roles; (2) conducting awareness sessions promoting entrepreneurship; (3) delivering a capacity-building package including training, exchange visits and role modelling to women entrepreneurs; and (4) holding networking and information sessions between micro-finance institutions, banks, business development centres, incubators, accelerators and youth entrepreneurs.