Grants to support Private Sector Growth Economic Development in Gaza (Palestinian Territories)

Deadline: 13-Jul-23

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) invites Palestinian or American not-for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations, non-profit higher education institutions, or non-profit social enterprises based in Gaza to submit proposals to design and implement a project which supports private sector growth and economic development in Gaza.

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Goals

This program must be designed to implement activities that advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S. OPA-PD mission, including but not limited to:
- Building Palestinian institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, that effectively address the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people;
- Building a prosperous Palestinian economy, led by a thriving private sector, that provides equitable and inclusive economic opportunities and improves daily life for Palestinians.

Focus Areas

The following illustrative focus areas are provided to assist Applicants in understanding the types of activities OPA seeks to address:
- Building capacity to advocate for improvements to policy and regulations to support private sector growth
- Establishing connections and enhancing cross-border, national, regional, and international commerce
- Creating private sector opportunities for recent graduates and young professionals
- Encouraging the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including through activities that include partnerships with start-ups and business incubators, including commemorating the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week
- Preparing youth for participation in the job market
- Developing skills and/or networks that encourage the expansion of sales and export opportunities
- Encouraging corporate social responsibility
- Increasing the accountability of private sector institutions
- Supporting economic empowerment for women and marginalized communities
- Building digital marketing and e-commerce skills and opportunities
The proposed program must include substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas, and ideals in order to improve American-Palestinian relations and create greater opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation.

Program Objectives

Working primarily at the local level and using an evidence-based approach, all proposed projects must aim to advance the OPA-PD mission goals stated, contain a substantive American element, and achieve at least one of the following specific objectives:
- Improved capacities of Palestinian businesses and/or entrepreneurs.
- Enhanced Palestinian entrepreneurial ecosystem and connections established between different components and stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Improved capacities of unemployed, underemployed, or early-career Palestinians to contribute to the Palestinian economy via participation in private sector enterprises.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $50,000
Award Ceiling: $50,000
Award Floor: $10,000
Length of performance period: 8 to 12 months.

Principals

Innovation and creativity in proposals are highly encouraged. The proposed project must adhere to the following five principals:
- Clearly defined specific project objectives, with specific supporting goals, quantifiable project benchmarks and/or milestones and a robust monitoring and evaluation plan.
- Must include a clear substantive American and Palestinian engagement element, using American expertise or partners and/or focusing on the American experience and expertise.
- Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
- Respect and protect environmental resources, and maintain existing ecosystems and essential ecological processes, and conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
- Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including by providing stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities and contribute to poverty alleviation.

Priority Region: Gaza Strip

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible primary applicants for grant funding must be Palestinian or American not-for-profit nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), associations, non-profit higher education institutions, or non-profit social enterprises based in Gaza.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.