Under the patronage of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister... The Ministry of Women's Affairs grants funds to 45 women's associations to enhance economic empowerment.

Ramallah – August 27, 2026 – Under the patronage and presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, in partnership with the Palestinian General Union of Palestinian Women, organized today a ceremony to hand over economic initiative grants to women's associations as part of the second phase of the project to enhance the economic participation of Palestinian women, supported by Italian development cooperation, at the Prime Minister's office in Ramallah. This is part of efforts to enhance the economic participation of Palestinian women, support grassroots women's associations, and strengthen their role in achieving development and resilience in their local communities.

The ceremony was held with the participation of the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Dr. Laila Ghannam, Governor of Jenin Kamal Abu Al-Rub, Governor of Nablus Ghassan Daghlas, Governor of Salfit Mustafa Ta'qa'ta, Governor of Tubas Ahmad Al-As'ad, Deputy Governor of Tulkarm Faisal Salameh, and Minister of Social Development Dr. Samah Hamad, and the Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr. Mohammad Al-Ahmad, representatives of international partners, heads of branches of the General Union of Palestinian Women, and heads of beneficiary women's associations.

The ceremony comes as a culmination of a comprehensive path of work, training, and capacity building, aimed at supporting grassroots women's associations and empowering them to develop economic initiatives that meet the needs of women and local communities, enhance opportunities for production, income, and sustainability, thereby contributing to the resilience of women, families, and communities.

 Al-Khalili: Grants are an investment in women and the ability of associations to sustain and endure.

 The Minister of Women's Affairs, A. Muna Khalili stated that the grants provided to associations do not only represent financial support, but rather "an investment in women, in the sustainability of the associations, and in the resilience of families and local communities." She explained that the selection of regions and initiatives took into account targeting areas most affected by occupation policies, as well as geographical and social diversity, including camps, villages, and cities, in addition to diversifying initiatives to reflect the uniqueness, resources, and competitive advantages of each area.

AlKhalili explained that the initiatives fall under the green economy program, which links women's economic empowerment with sustainable production, efficient resource use, and the enhancement of local value chains. She emphasized that "women's economic empowerment is an integral part of economic recovery," and that Palestinian women are not only beneficiaries of recovery programs but also partners in production, the local economy, family protection, and strengthening community resilience. She indicated that the next phase will expand to the central and southern governorates, in partnership with Spanish cooperation and the United Nations Development Program, allowing access to a larger number of associations and women and supporting economic initiatives that respond to the characteristics of each region and the needs of its local communities.

 Minister's Victory: Economic empowerment is a right and a tool to enhance women's independence and community resilience

 The President of the General Union of Palestinian Women, A. Intisar Al-Wazir emphasized that the economic empowerment of Palestinian women is not a temporary project or merely providing job opportunities, but rather a right and a fundamental tool to enhance their status, independence, and ability to face crises and contribute to building a more resilient society. She pointed out that empowering women economically essentially means empowering the family and the entire community.

Ms. Intissar Al Wazir emphasized that true economic empowerment does not stop at providing funding or equipment, but rather requires training, skill-building, and the development of administrative and marketing capabilities. She affirmed that the initiatives represent a step within a broader path to transition women from being beneficiaries to being producers, project owners, decision-makers, and full partners in economic and social development.

 Prime Minister: Women are active partners in the upcoming phase

The Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa stated that the government, with the continuous guidance and support of President Mahmoud Abbas, continues to work on empowering Palestinian women and enhancing their presence in various political, national, social, and economic fields, affirming that women are active partners in the upcoming phase, including political entitlements and legislative elections.

Dr. Mustafa praised the resilience of Palestinian women, especially in the northern West Bank governorates that are subjected to occupation assaults, affirming that supporting women's associations is support for national and pioneering institutions that play an important economic, social, and national role, and contribute to strengthening the resilience of families and local communities. He also extended greetings to the women in the Gaza Strip in appreciation of their steadfastness and their bearing of family and community responsibilities under difficult humanitarian conditions.

The ceremony witnessed the distribution of financial grants to 45 grassroots women's associations from the governorates of Tulkarm, Jenin, Salfit, Nablus, Tubas, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley, in support of their economic initiatives and to enhance their sustainability, as part of an integrated approach that combines funding, training, capacity building, and strengthening the administrative and financial readiness of the associations.

The beneficiary associations were distributed across the governorates as follows:

Salfit: Al-Zaytouna Cooperative Society for Agricultural Development, Al-Haris Women’s Charity Society for Social Work, Al-Aseel Charity Society, Al-Taa’awon Society for Community Development, Al-Ibda’a Cooperative Society for Agricultural Manufacturing, Al-Zawiya Women’s Charity Society, Life Center Cultural Society/Authority, Deir Istiya Women’s Charity Society.

Nablus: Al-Junaid Women's Charity Association, Beit Wazan Women's Charity Association, Al Badan Women's Charity Association, Women's Programs Association – Balata Camp, Azzam Women's Center Association, Bizzaria Cooperative Women’s Association, Entrepreneur Cooperative for Thyme and Honey, Deir Sharaf Charity Association, Yanboo Majdal Charity Association, Surra Cooperative for Food Manufacturing, Al-Huda Charity Association, Beit Furik Cooperative for Rural Development.

Tulkarm: Tulkarm Women's Association, Kofr AlLabad Charity Association, Women's Awareness and Heritage Association, Sayda Cooperative Association for Marketing Rural Products, Bala’a Cooperative Association for Food Manufacturing, Ramin Charity Association, Nour Shams Women's Association, Al-Najda Social Association for the Development of Palestinian Women, The Child Care Charity Association, Ain Sultan Women's Association, Christian Youth Association/Ariha.

Tubas: The Women's Work Association for Women's Rehabilitation, the Women's Social Center/Tayasir, the Women's Social Center Association/Tamoun, the Women's Social Center Association/Far'a Camp, in addition to the associations listed in the project list.

 Jericho and the Jordan Valley: The Charitable Society for the Villages of the Wall Line, the Aqaba Charitable Society for Women, the Jericho Charitable Women's Society, the Al-Zubaydah Women's Center Charitable Society, the Ain Sultan Women's Society, the Christian Youth Association/Jericho.