Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman announced the first two awards under the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) Partnership for Peace Fund (PPF) today in Jerusalem. These grants will support Palestinian and Israeli private sectors to build partnerships, increase economic growth, and lay the foundation for peace through people-to-people programs.
The first grant provides $3.3 million over four years to provide businesswomen with training, seed funding, and connections with successful entrepreneur mentors. A separate component of the activity will train young women on business skills and expose them to role models, building the next generation of women entrepreneurs. Training and mentorship sessions will provide opportunities for Palestinian and Israeli women to expand their business networks and build the personal connections that help foster greater security, prosperity, and freedom.
The second grant provides $2.2 million over three years to support Palestinian and Israeli business leaders and small and medium enterprises. The grant will bring together and coach Palestinian and Israeli businesses to build partnerships and advance participants’ business goals. The activity will support both Palestinian and Israeli trade associations to leverage their business networks and extended connections across Israel and the West Bank. Joint business working groups will bring together Palestinian and Israeli business leaders to identify challenges and solutions to increase trade between the West Bank and Israel.
MEPPA advances peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians to enable a sustainable two-state solution. USAID will announce additional PPF grants, including to local organizations, in the coming weeks.
More information about how USAID is implementing MEPPA to increase people-to-people partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians is available at USAID.gov.