UNDP unveils job creation project in Gaza – UNDP/PAPP press release

Gaza — The United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People launched a job creation project that supports youth in Gaza funded by the Government of Japan for the amount of US$756,276. The project, targeting 230 fresh university graduates from Gaza, will be implemented by the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO).

The project aims at enhancing the status of young Gazan young graduates through providing them with professional training and income generation opportunities through job placements at around 100 CSOs in the Gaza Strip. The graduates will first be provided with professional training courses in English language, management, finance, fundraising and proposal writing to ensure efficient delivery of services to the beneficiaries.

PNGO director, Mr. Amjad Shawa expressed his appreciation to UNDP/PAPP and the Government of Japan for supporting this important segment of society particularly under the current bleak circumstances that the youth are experiencing in Gaza. “This project will have a great role in contributing to the empowerment of youth and engagement in the community, which will also lead to the advancement of their careers and their capacities,” he added.

The project will include the creation of a Students Initiative Support Fund to sponsor and help materialize the ideas proposed by university students. This component of the project will allow students, individually or in groups, to think and lead projects that address critical issues in the society.

A competition will then take place and an independent committee will select around 28 initiatives through an application process according to a pre-set criterion.

Mr. Sascha Graumann, head of UNDP/PAPP Gaza office highlighted the importance of this project by saying that “our goal is to sustain the resilience of the Palestinian civil society and allow youth to create their path towards development”.

The signing ceremony too place in Gaza and was attended by PNGO Chair Mr. Mohsen Abu Ramadan and Mr. Sascha Graumann, head of UNDP/PAPP Gaza office. The programme will be implemented during the period of six months; however, it is expected to sustain itself given the expected improvement of CSOs capacities and the youth capacity to sustain their livelihoods.

For further information, please contact:

In Jerusalem: Dania Darwish, Communications Officer, Tel. +972-2-6268229 — e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org, In Gaza: Najla Shawa, Communications Focal Point, Tel. +972-8-2822167 — e-mail: Najla.shawa@undp.org, Said Abu Ghaza, Project Manager e-mail: said.abughazza@undp.org, Tel. +972 59 9429555. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see http://www.undp.ps.