CFAs: Grants for MSMEs in Palestine

Global Communities is implementing the “Supporting Competitiveness and Growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Palestine” program, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The program is based on the Market Systems Development (MSD) methodology, focusing on analyzing the market, economic sectors, and processes related to providing support services. The goal is to develop the market by identifying and assessing business constraints and gaps that hinder the achievement of sustainable development for owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises. This approach ensures a sustainable approach to addressing these constraints and creating job opportunities, especially for women and youth. Based on the analytical studies conducted and the program’s priorities, the creative industries sector in the West Bank was selected, which includes handicrafts, furniture, footwear, and leather.

Objectives

• The “Supporting Competitiveness and Growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Palestine” program seeks to achieve three objectives:
  • Building the capacities and improving the skills of economic enterprises: increasing their ability to access and benefit more from available opportunities in the labor market.
  • Improving the functions and tasks that support market systems: facilitating the access of micro, small, and medium enterprises to these opportunities.
  • Improving the enabling environment for business: enhancing the growth and competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Funding Information

• The maximum grant is only $20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars), provided that the beneficiary contributes at least 20% of the approved grant value.

Target Group

• The grant targets productive/industrial economic establishments, with preference given to establishments operating in the creative industries sector in marginalized areas of the West Bank, such as Areas C and H2, in addition to Jerusalem and the northern West Bank, or projects that provide support services to these businesses in the targeted sector. It also focuses on projects that adopt green economy technologies and projects that attract women and youth (projects owned by women or youth, or where women and youth workers represent a high percentage of the project’s workforce).

Eligibility Criteria 

• Micro, small, and medium-sized economic establishments or projects of male and female entrepreneurs applying for the grant are required to meet the following criteria:
  • Target Sector: The establishment must operate in productive sectors with preference for creative industries, such as handicrafts, furniture, footwear, and leather, or provide support services to these sectors.
  • Target Areas: The establishment must operate in marginalized areas of the West Bank, such as the “C”, “H2”, Jerusalem areas, and the northern West Bank.
  • Experience and Economic Feasibility: The facility must have sufficient experience in the project’s field of work, and the submitted idea must be economically feasible and have a tangible, measurable impact (improving and increasing work efficiency, competitiveness, productivity, quality, marketing, work skills, capabilities, creativity, and excellence).
  • Legal Activities: The project’s economic activities and operations must be legal and not violate any governing laws or regulations.
  • It must be registered with approved official authorities.
  • Cooperation with the Program: The facility must commit to cooperating with the program staff and facilitating its work during the program period.
  • Financial Participation: The facility must commit to providing a financial contribution of 20% of the approved grant value.
  • Environmental Activities: The facility must not have any negative impact on the environment.
  • Diverse Use of the Grant: The grant can be used to purchase equipment and materials necessary for the project, in addition to providing consulting services or any other services aimed at improving and enhancing performance and growth.

For more information, visit Global Communities.