Grow Components

Component 1: Supportive Environment for Women-led MSMEs

GROW’s first component looks at understanding and addressing the various socioeconomic and sociocultural barriers faced by women and female youth in reference to their economic participation and prosperity. As such, GROW positions itself to increase access to a supportive environment promoting gender-inclusive policies and practises of policy makers and market actors, at both local and national levels. By facilitating networking events with stakeholders, conducting gender-sensitive value chain analyses, providing financial literacy trainings, in addition to numerous other activities, GROW acknowledges and eliminates the presence of barriers inhibiting women and female youth’s access to entrepreneurship opportunities, as well as provides beneficial resources and support mechanisms to overcome such obstacles.

Policy advocacy and community awareness campaigns

Based on key priority policy issues focusing on women's economic and social rights identified by women entrepreneurs themselves, four policy advocacy initiatives and community awareness campaigns will be conducted by our partner Asala to address socio-cultural barriers. At community level, male and female leaders will be trained on advocacy work and gender issues to lead awareness sessions within their communities.

Campaign Promoting Women’s Participation in the Chambers of Commerce,

Our partner Asala launched the first policy advocacy initiative reaching nearly 100,000 people with the objective of influencing policy changes and promoting improved businesswomen’s inclusion and participation in the Palestinian Chambers of Commerce. The campaign utilized a diverse range of media and communication tools which were intensified during the International Women’s Day (IWD) campaign resulting in maximized visibility on a national level. The campaign has shown initial signs of interest by duty bearers including the federation of chambers of commerce and the newly elected boards of directors.See more

Gender-responsive financial literacy training and access to finance

In partnership with Asala, the Association of Banks, Network of Microfinance Institutions (Sharaka), Bank of Palestine (BOP) and the Union of Credit and Saving Cooperatives (UCASC), GROW will facilitate the development and delivery of gender-responsive financial literacy training and awareness raising sessions in close coordination with the Palestinian Monitory Authority (PMA) to ensure alignment with the national financial inclusion strategy objectives and priorities. Asala will also facilitate linkages between selected women-led MSMEs and financial service providers to enhance women’s access to financial solutions.

Domestic, regional, and/or international market opportunities.

GROW’s approach to strengthening access to markets will be first informed by the identification of viable domestic, regional, and/or international markets where women’s products can hold a competitive advantage. Given the inherent mobility restrictions, women’s access to markets remains relatively constrained – often limited within the village or surrounding communities. GROW will support women-led MSMEs, including cooperatives and women associations, to access new markets (domestic, regional and/or international). By collaborating with organizations, such as Asala and Paltrade, a series of interventions will be implemented with women-led MSMEs aiming at increasing their capacity to develop and implement tailored marketing and export strategies, understand technical, quality, and regulatory requirements for export markets. For the smaller and less advanced businesses and cooperatives, the project will facilitate participation in local marketing events (exhibitions, trade fairs, bazaars, B2B meetings) and conduct market outreach to stimulate business linkages and integration within domestic channels.

Networking/knowledge-sharing events

GROW’s networking and knowledge sharing events aim at leveraging the knowledge generated by the project and other available market information. Information dissemination events will include networking sessions and B2B meetings between beneficiary women MSMEs and private sector actors in the different levels of the value chain and will where possible facilitate women’s participation in domestic exhibitions and bazars. As part of its first events, GROW in close cooperation with the MoNE designed and implemented the best agri-food product made by women for the 2019 prize. The aim of this activity was to bring attention to the food processing value chain, women’s roles and products and to ensure their economic contributions do not remain invisible. Recognition of women’s achievements in this area and awarding of prizes took place in a joint ceremony with MoNE on the 2nd of May 2019, coinciding with International Labour Day.

Component 2: Technical, Business and Managerial Capacity Building

GROW’s second component focuses on opportunities promoting the establishment and/or growth of economic and business opportunities for women and female youth by providing business management training, assistance in the development and implementation of sustainable business plans, as well as technical training on processing techniques and innovative marketing. Via this component, GROW promotes success and sustainability, advancing the productivity and competitive advantage for women in social and economic spheres in the West Bank.

Entrepreneurship, technical and business management training

GROW will provide foundational and advanced gender-responsive entrepreneurship and business development training that provide information on the basics of business development, but also recognizes that the women are drawing from their experience as entrepreneurs. The training for new and existing businesses is structured around development of a viable business plan and focuses on market analysis, business ideation, business planning and development including an implementation strategy and a financial plan, budgeting, operations and logistics, management, identifying and accessing markets and finance, business continuity and risk management, business formalization, workforce development and job growth, human resources, inclusion, and decent work.

Gender-responsive training and technical assistance in the development and implementation of sustainable, climate-smart business plans

Women entrepreneurs will be supported with on-going gender-responsive coaching to develop and implement business plans. Those who are selected by the business selection committee will also access small grants to support start up or business growth. Furthermore, to support the successful launch of new women-led MSMEs, ensure peer learning and problem solving, and reinforce women’s business networks, small group coaching will be organized to deliver practical information on pricing, sourcing inputs, time management, packaging, marketing, etc.). GROW will also facilitate women’s business support networks and mentor relationships between women entrepreneurs in the same sectors. These networks and mentors help businesses grow and thrive as women share informal advice and expertise with one another. They also present opportunities for collaboration and developing access to new markets.

Technical training on climate smart processing techniques, food safety & hygiene, and innovative marketing provided to women-led MSMEs and cooperatives

GROW will provide skill-building workshops to improve production, processing, product quality, safety and marketing. Technical skill-building courses could consist of, e.g., beekeeping, food processing, health and hygiene in food processing, production and drying of herbs, etc. Through gender-responsive small group coaching sessions, women entrepreneurs will be provided with hands-on technical support to develop high quality marketing and branding, with a goal of increasing marketability of products and services. Furthermore, exchange visits among Project GROW beneficiaries and existing women entrepreneurs will be organized to share experiences in developing businesses and improving production in the agro-food processing sector, exchange on best practices and innovative techniques, and increase networking potential among beneficiaries.

Gender-responsive business and technical training and start-up support to establish and run school canteen micro-franchises.

Micro-franchises offer a way to increase the business Startup success and reduce risk -- especially for entrepreneurs who are inexperienced or risk adverse. They increase the likelihood of success by creating a support structure for business coaching, facilitating economies of scale (procurement, training), and building linkages among entrepreneurs and communities. The micro franchise model involves developing a network of small businesses and linking them together through a shared business plan that includes comprehensive guidelines for: Technology selection, Business management, Staffing and customer service, Quality control, Branding and marketing, and Reporting and accounting systems. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, six women’s associations will be selected and engaged in canteens. Following a needs assessment of each of 6 targeted women’s associations, NEF will provide association capacity building training focusing on financial systems, recordkeeping, leadership and negotiation, as well as other needs identified in the assessment. Furthermore, women from women associations will receive gender-responsive training on micro franchise start-up and operation, food processing and preparation hygiene, best practices, operating standards, finance, and record keeping, and business management. It is expected that each of the six women’s associations will launch 5 canteens (30 canteens total). To foster success and sustainability of the canteen micro franchises, women canteen members within and across women’s associations will be linked together. These women’s peer networks will facilitate peer learning, support, confidence-building, and collaboration, while facilitating opportunities for women canteen members to capitalize on potential collaboration and economies of scale.

Component 3: Supporting the Adoption of Renewable Energy

GROW’s third component focuses on the integration of renewable energy as a reliable and affordable source for female entrepreneurs and women-led cooperatives, as well as a sector to promote and enhance female employment opportunities. GROW addresses this through the promotion and implementation of awareness-raising campaigns; training women and female youth for renewable energy-related employment; installation of solar equipment; in addition to alternative opportunities that not only enhance the functional capacity of women and female youth participation, but additionally provide opportunities for other women and female youth to gain employment opportunities within the renewable energy sector.

Awareness-raising campaigns on potential business/job opportunities in renewable energy

After undertaking an assessment of the level of awareness and use of renewable energy technologies among youth in the West Bank, an awareness campaign will target female youth, renewable energy companies and universities with the aim of enhancing female youth’s engagement in this sector.

Sustainable renewable energy-related employment and skills development opportunities

GROW will design and implement renewable energy placement and/or co-op program for women and female youth apprentices or trainees with focus on students/recent graduates enabling them to gain employment in the renewable energy sector. The project will liaise with employers to determine the skills/expertise required, the optimal length of placements, conditions for subsequent employment at the end of the placement period (where applicable) and readiness to financially contribute to the remuneration of the students/recruits.

Renewable Energy Innovation Fund

In order to stimulate greater penetration and adoption of renewable energy as an alternative energy source, GROW will facilitate the piloting of renewable energy innovations to address the specific needs of producers within the targeted value chains. GROW will work with Palestinian youth to test, replicate, and scale up innovative RE and clean-tech solutions to Palestinian women-led MSMEs/co-ops through engaging Canadian technical expertise, which will create economic benefit for both youth and enterprises, while minimizing environmental impact by decreasing energy and/or water use.

Solar Panels Installation and Energy Saving Equipment for MSMEs

Opportunities will be identified to facilitate the supply and installation of PV systems and energy saving equipment to benefit women’s entrepreneurs, women’s groups, cooperatives or enterprises. In parallel, options will be analyzed to maximize the financial contribution of the project to the PV installations. These could include facilitating financing (as opposed to a grant-based mechanism), partially subsidizing the installation in the form of a grant while partnering with market players (private or institutional) under a co-financing arrangement.

OUR COMPONENTS