The Palestinian economy in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt: Gaza Strip, West Bank including East Jerusalem) has been stagnant for several years with prolonged Israeli occupation and its complex system of rules to control the movement of people and goods. C-19 pandemic and the recurrent hostilities and violence, have further deteriorated the socio-economic situation. Job creation has been sluggish due to lack of economic diversification impacting the employment of youth and women. IT is among the few sectors with remarkable growth rates. Fostered by global digital transformation, the demand of the local and global market for Tech services is growing fast. An increasing number of youth are working as coders and software developers for private companies or sell tech services and social media content as freelancers on the global market. In a context where most economic sectors struggle with trade restrictions and other constraints imposed by occupation, the IT sector opens perspectives for youth and an avenue for economic growth.

To develop its potential as a new pillar of the Palestinian economy able to create jobs for youth, the sector requires investments in human resources (upskilling) and infrastructure as well as better connections with the global market. If further allows to explore and develop linkages between Palestinian and Swiss private sector by promoting outsourcing and foreign direct investments. The Youth Tech Start Programme tackles bottlenecks of the Palestinian Tech ecosystem in a holistic manner under the guidance and private sector expertise of the World Bank.

Individuals: (a) Students, engineers, and IT professionals in the West Bank and Gaza—many of whom are young, recent graduates, and women and (b) Managers and owners of businesses located in the West Bank and Gaza

Firms: IT services companies and business service providers legally registered in the West Bank and Gaza. IT services include software publishing; computer programming, consultancy, and related activities; and data processing, hosting, and related activities

Outcome 1: Increased job opportunities for youth and women in the Tech sector through enhanced skills and capacities.

Outcome 2: Improved IT ecosystem in Gaza and the West Bank.

Outcome 3: Improved market access and increasing demand and investments.

Expected results:  

• 45 international buyers signing new contracts with local IT service firms benefiting from project activities
• About 900 youth (50% women) have upskilled their capacities through a) student internships, b) train to hire stipends and c) on the job training stipends
• 1000 high skilled IT service jobs created by local ICT firms (50% women)
• 30 local IT firms adopting gender sensitive human resource policies
• 10 new local IT firms established (2 women led)
• About 675 youth report long-term employment (50% females)
• Two additional new IT service providers
• 200 ICT local firms benefitting from project activities including 35 firms with new contracts
• 3Mio USD foreign direct investment generated by the project

Synergies with other donors in particular the World Bank, The Netherlands and the EU:

• Systematic cooperation with TLV embassy and SRO Ramallah
• Synergies with the on-going engagement with An-Najah University, Birzeit University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) on digital transformation
• The project is complementary in particular with UNDP “Generating youth employment and Economic empowerment through the Palestinian innovation eco-system”