www.mercycorps.org

Mercy Corps works in close partnership with international and Palestinian business associations, private sector and civil society organizations to identify and design knowledge-based economic and social programs. Mercy Corps’ programs build upon the opportunities afforded by information and communication technologies (ICT) as the primary sector for investment in Palestinian economic growth and social development. Given the capacity of ICT to transcend borders and national identities, it presents opportunities for Palestinian businesses to form international trade relationships promoting economic and job growth, enables Palestinian youth to gain valuable life skills, and to engage virtually with their peers around the world.

Mercy Corps has been working with Palestinian partners in the West Bank and Gaza since the mid-1980’s, both responding to immediate humanitarian needs and promoting long-term development of Palestinian communities. Current Mercy Corps development programs focus on investing in furtherance of a knowledge-based transformation in the West Bank and Gaza through:

ICT • business development and cross-border partnerships; Labor market demand-driven ICT • training for youth; ICT-enabled global • engagement and advocacy activities.

Mercy Corps’ knowledge-based transformation program-ming in the West Bank and Gaza are funded by USAID, the United Kingdom Foreign Office, the European Com-mission, Qatar Charity and private foundations with a bud-get of nearly $10M for 2008 to 2011.

ICT Business Development & Cross-Border Partnerships: Mercy Corps created a series of complementary, knowledge-based economic activities that lay the foundation for Palestinian economic growth. In partnership with local and international ICT business associations, Mercy Corps is working to reduce barriers for cross-border partnerships between Palestinian technology companies and peers in the Middle East, Europe and

Knowledge-Based Transformation North America to catalyze economic development and support stability in the West Bank & Gaza.

With a combination of direct investment, technical support and training, Mercy Corps supports nascent international business partnerships with Palestinian technology companies - through market analysis and dissemination of information necessary to identify international business opportunities, provision of subsidized training and apprenticeships for Palestinian ICT professionals during formative phases of cross-border partnerships, support for business to business (B2B) and corporate networking events, and sponsorship of industry standard certifications.

Aside from providing much-needed economic growth opportunities for Palestinian companies through facilitation of international partnerships, Mercy Corps is also supporting the launch of new ICT businesses which show potential for high growth, and the overall enlargement of the Palestinian ICT sector and economy. Working with local partners, Mercy Corps offers would-be Palestinian technology entrepreneurs business trainings, incubation services, technical support, and in some cases support the most promising ventures with first phase risk capital for start up through small grant or equity financing. Mercy Corps is also actively seeking social investors and donors to support the launch of the venture capital industry in Palestine through it’s INSPIRE ‘Investing to Spur Palestinian ICT Enterprises’ Initiative.

www.mercycorps.orgKnowledge-Based Transformation

Market-Driven ICT Skills Training: In order to further support the development of the Palestinian knowledge economy, Mercy Corps is partnering with Palestinian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities to design new or upgrade existing technology-based training programs with an aim to better prepare the emerging workforce with cutting edge technical skills demanded by the labor market, to equip them for future positions within the growing Palestinian ICT sector.

Mercy Corps works in partnership with Palestinian educational institutions in the West Bank and Gaza to prepare underserved Palestinian youth for future employment by increasing the standard and relevance of technology education and training offered at TVET institutions and universities, thus facilitating a smoother school-to-work transition. Using an “ICT sector workforce demand” approach, Mercy Corps works in cooperation with Cisco, Microsoft, Accelerator Online and other partner organizations to modernize ICT technical curricula and provide greater Arabic e-learning options; upgrade facilities; train teachers in utilization of ICT in the classroom; and facilitate placement of students in technology apprenticeships upon graduation. Additionally, Mercy Corps is working on development of an online Career Resource Center and Job Placement site to link TVET and college students and graduates to educational resources, provide increased access to information about available job opportunities, job search tips, and online learning resources.

ICT - Supported Global Engagement: Alongside these market-based economic interventions, Mercy Corps is implementing a portfolio of knowledge-based social transformation activities designed to address the needs of the promising Palestinian youth population which is hungry for global connections and for opportunities to participate in civil society. The Global Citizen Corps’ (GCC) initiative inspires and equips young leaders to take informed actions at home with a focus on building secure, productive and just communities around the world. It was established in 2005 by Mercy Corps to help disaffected youth learn how to create and advocate for a better future, through the use of multimedia and online interactions among peers across continents, as well as on the ground Youth activism, Since its inception, thousands of Middle-Eastern and American youth have engaged in global citizenship education, community service and cross-border dialogue that transformed the way they see their role in society. These peer-to-peer educational connections foster empathy, dispel cultural myths, provide two-way learning, and increase motivation for collaborative actions. 1000 Palestinian GCC members led by youth leaders engage in online dialogue between countries and then mobilize their peers around global actions, one of which is implemented collaboratively across borders. The leadership curriculum allows diverse youth to build trusting relationships, explore cultural differences, and find common ground around peaceful change. Based on past experience, the trained Global Citizen Corps leaders are able to directly engage 10,000 peers in their global citizenship activities who together reach over one million others every year through awareness building events and online social networking.

Mercy Corps, West Bank / GazaP.O. Box 49263, JerusalemTel: +972-2-628-4563Fax: +972-2-628-4474Email: adwonch@field.mercycorps.org