Project Name: Technical Assistance Facility (pilot program)
Inception date: Early 2013
Current status: Structuring phase
Expected outcomes: Pilot phase expected to serve up to 40 SMEs in Palestine over a 6-year period, creating over 300 direct jobs in the process. Upon successful implementation of the pilot, the TAF may be expanded for regional application.
Partner(s): Siraj Fund Management
Countries covered: Palestine, regional (after pilot)
Description: The TAF was developed to facilitate the access of SMEs in Palestine to the services of the IMMA Program through a 3-year, interest-free, subordinated debt. SMEs in Palestine can therefore benefit from the comprehensive capacity building services included in the 10-point system of the IMMA Program.
Project Name: Kiva Arab Youth
Inception date: March 2012
Current status: Active
Expected outcomes: Approximately 1,700 youth enterprises supported, $2 million of funding mobilized over 12 months.
Partner(s): Kiva, 9 microfinance institutions in MENA
Countries covered: Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq
Description: Peer-to-peer lending channel on Kiva.org to support young
Project Name: Regional Startup Loan Guarantee
Inception date: March 2012
Current status: Active
Expected outcomes: 2,500 youth startup micro-businesses provided with finance over 3 years
Partner(s): United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)
Countries covered: Palestine, Jordan
Description: Partial guarantee mechanism to stimulate lending to the youth startup cohort
Project Name: Work Against All Odds
Inception date: June 2012
Current status: Implementation beginning in December 2012
Expected outcomes: Pilot to prove the Virtual Work Experience model with Palestinian youth in Gaza
Partner(s): Al Fakhoora
Countries covered: Palestine
Description: Virtual work experience program to help young Palestinian graduates build their skills, engage clients and create a positive track record in the virtual marketplace (ODesk or Elance). Program will work like an internship, with participants receiving skills, feedback, mentoring, and a nominal fee for services. At the end of the program, interns will have online portfolios to showcase their work, detailed feedback and support from managers and a solid track record of hours worked and reviews to post on the top virtual marketplaces. Virtual work experience, if successful, will be highly scalable, inclusive and prepare youth for both wage and self-employment.