The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) is marking Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from November 14-20, 2022. GEW aims to promote entrepreneurship and foster investment, partnership, and collaboration to enhance economies and tackle global challenges. This year's theme focuses on education, ecosystems, inclusion, and policies that support entrepreneurs and start-ups.
OPA is setting up the E3 Hub at America House Ramallah in 2023. The hub will focus on entrepreneurial skills, economic empowerment, and employment advancement for Palestinians. Through this initiative and America House programming, OPA intends to equip young Palestinians with tools to develop their businesses successfully.
This year, OPA collaborates with Al Quds University to plan activities that enhance participants' skills and connect them with potential collaborators globally. In partnership with PalTechUS and TechnoPark, OPA is organizing training events to unite the Palestinian diaspora in the U.S., local businesspeople, tech leaders, and young entrepreneurs.
In East Jerusalem, a grant to Station Jerusalem will help entrepreneurs with digital skills development for expanding into U.S. markets. Five Palestinian women entrepreneurs will advance in the Scale Up & Thrive project by traveling to the U.S. for capacity building as part of an OPA Public Diplomacy-funded program.
OPA's American Spaces offer programs like Skills for Success targeting recent graduates and unemployed youth from Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza. The Virtual Global Ambassadors Program provides leadership opportunities for social entrepreneurs.
Palestinian teachers launched the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship BizCamp after participating in an OPA-funded training over the summer. They worked with students on business ideas showcased during International Education and Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Through collaborations in East Jerusalem and Gaza, Palestinian alumni of U.S. exchange programs are training women through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs using Thunderbird Business School's DreamBuilders program.
In partnership with Bright Stars of Bethlehem organization, OPA is launching the Palestinian Food Stories project to develop a sustainable tourism sector by offering culinary tourism experiences.
USAID West Bank & Gaza supports entrepreneurs turning challenges into opportunities through various programs throughout November.
For more information about these initiatives or assistance services provided by the U.S., contact details are available through specified channels.