Khalili: Women's cooperatives are a fundamental pillar for economic empowerment and strengthening the resilience of Palestinian women.

Khalili: Women's cooperatives are a fundamental pillar for economic empowerment and strengthening the resilience of Palestinian women.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs issued a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Cooperative Work, which falls on July 4, in which it affirmed that women’s cooperatives in Palestine represent one of the most important tools for promoting women’s economic and social empowerment, and a fundamental lever for supporting community resilience in light of the exceptional circumstances imposed by the Israeli occupation and its ongoing repercussions, especially in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

 Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, affirmed that women’s cooperatives constitute a practical model for sustainable development based on collective work and local production, and contribute to enhancing women’s economic independence, providing job opportunities and improving livelihoods, in addition to, their role in promoting social cohesion and supporting families in times of crisis.

 Al-Khalili added that investing in the women's cooperative economy is an investment in the resilience and stability of Palestinian society, and in enhancing women's ability to participate effectively in economic and social development.

 Al-Khalili stressed that the ministry is working to support this sector through the National Gender Equality Strategies (2025–2027) and the Inclusive Palestinian Economy Strategy (2025–2030), which will ensure enhanced access for women to finance, training and markets.

 The statement noted that women constitute about 49% of the total population in Palestine, while women and young women face persistent gaps in job opportunities and access to productive resources, amid deteriorating economic conditions and rising rates of unemployment and poverty, especially in the Gaza Strip, which has witnessed unprecedented levels of economic deterioration during the last two years.

 The statement also explained that women’s cooperatives have proven over the past years their ability to provide sustainable production models in the fields of agriculture, crafts, food industries and services, and have contributed to providing food security and supporting affected families during periods of aggression and emergencies.

 The ministry stated that its data indicates the existence of 342 active cooperative societies in the West Bank, with women constituting about 30.9% of their members, while the percentage of fully women-owned cooperatives is 12.6% of the total cooperatives, stressing the importance of expanding women’s participation in this vital sector.

 She pointed out that women's cooperatives face challenges related to weak funding, difficulty accessing markets, restrictions on movement and resources, in addition to, the effects of the occupation on the economic and productive environment.

 The ministry concluded its statement by emphasizing its call to international partners and funding institutions to expand support programs for women's cooperatives, as an entry point for promoting social justice and achieving more inclusive and sustainable economic development in Palestine.

 The Ministry of Women's Affairs, with the support from the Export Program and implemented by the We Search Research and Consulting Center, launched an interactive training workshop on gender-sensitive economic policy analysis.

The workshop aimed to enhance understanding of the economic policy analysis process to ensure the integration of gender issues at all stages of policy formulation, thereby contributing to improved institutional performance and more responsive policies to women's needs. Participants included representatives from partner government institutions, such as the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of National Economy, as well as staff from the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

 The workshop addressed the importance of integrating a gender perspective into economic policies and its role in addressing the challenges facing women's economic participation. This was achieved through developing a practical understanding of relevant concepts and methodologies, analyzing policies, and measuring their impact on different groups, ultimately contributing to the development of more inclusive and gender-disaggregated policies.

The workshop also included a review and development of a practical tool for mainstreaming a gender perspective in economic policies, and its application to a selected policy paper. This supports the formulation of recommendations and indicators that enhance policy effectiveness, consider the needs of both women and men, and support the work of gender units in line ministries, as well as strengthening the role of the Ministry of Women's Affairs through its Private Sector Department.

 The workshop concluded with a preliminary framework for a gender-responsive policy paper, agreement on mechanisms for its completion, and the development of a roadmap for adopting and utilizing the gender mainstreaming tool in policy development and review processes at the institutional level.

Ramallah – Minister of Women’s