RAMALLAH/PNN/
The Labor Ministry Wednesday joined forces with KfW Development Bank, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) to launch the Palestinian Employment Initiative.
The Palestinian Employment Initiative (PEI), aimed at creating job opportunities and support economic recovery on the long run, was launched by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Labor Minister Enas Attari along with high-ranking representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany, the UNDP and the Officer of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip at the Prime Minister’s Office in Ramallah.
The new three-year initiative, to be implemented by the Office of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip together with the UNDP, secures €25 million in funding from the German Government through KfW to create approximately 8,000 job opportunities in these areas.
Prime Minister Mustafa commended the PEI, which he described as one that would contribute to strengthening the resilience of the Palestinian people, particularly workers who have lost their sources of livelihood due to the Israeli genocidal aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and as one that sought to create employment opportunities in vital sectors and would foster economic recovery on the long term.
Given the unprecedented employment rates, particularly among women and the youth, Premier Mustafa added, the PEI would send a message to the Palestinian people, especially during these harsh times.
He called on other states to follow suit by contributing to the PEI, which constitutes an investment in building what he described as a sustainable path to a brighter future for Palestinians.
Labor Minister Attari, for her part, expressed her sincere gratitude to the German Government for supporting this endeavour. She noted that the PEI would help Palestinian workers generate income, serve as a fundamental pillar of economic sustainability, and pave the way towards self-sufficiency and empowerment.
She added that the PEI was intended to address the current unemployment crisis and serve as a proactive step towards building a flexible and inclusive labour market by investing in various sectors and equipping Palestinian workers with the skills and opportunities necessary to succeed within partnerships that prioritize sustainable development.
