USAID increases opportunities for young people, including vulnerable and marginalized youth, and helps them effectively engage in their communities. USAID provides youth with needed psychosocial support, life skills and leadership opportunities, as well as referrals to technical training and other support to build skills and generate income.
USAID is currently doing this through the following activities:
Basic Education Activity
$49 million • Implemented by Creative Associates International • 2023-2027
The Basic Education Activity (BEA) is a four-year activity that strengthens non-government education services for more than 200,000 children aged 4-13 years through high-quality early childhood and primary education services. Under this activity, USAID will work with private non-governmental partners to provide early childhood and primary educational opportunities for children in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. BEA follows a holistic and inclusive approach to child development to ensure the cognitive, emotional, and social growth of children. BEA will provide equal access to education for all children including those with special needs through non-governmental education services.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Activity
$30 million • Implemented by IREX • 2022-2027
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Activity enables TVET institutions to meet labor market demands and provide Palestinians with meaningful, well-paying employment and income-generating opportunities. The TVET Activity develops new technical training, and improves the quality of existing technical programs. These programs will support Palestinian career paths and link participants to employment opportunities, or help them start their own business, in increasingly in-demand technical sectors. The Activity increases TVET institutions’ responsiveness to the needs of the private sector and the effects of climate change; creates new partnerships between the TVET institutions and the private sector; and increases the number of skilled graduates. The TVET Activity works with around 12 TVET institutions to build their capacity and connect them with private sector employers. Approximately 2,230 students will benefit from new/modernized TVET training programs, and around 1,900 students expect to find employment upon graduation from the new/modernized TVET training programs. In addition, the TVET Activity will enhance career development services and mentorships at the targeted TVET institutions. This will benefit at least 400 females, enhancing their opportunities to find meaningful employment, and provide scholarships for 500 of the most marginalized youth to pursue technical training for employment and entrepreneurship.
Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) Activity
$50 million • Implemented by Mercy Corps • 2021-2028
Positive Youth Engagement is a multi-sectoral youth activity designed to support Palestinian youth development. PYE supports 85,000 vulnerable and marginalized youth aged 10-24 with services that improve youth learning outcomes and access to employment opportunities, increase linkages and partnerships with the private sector, and promote community involvement. Examples of services include psychosocial support, life skills development, and work-readiness training, civic education activities, youth-led initiatives, internships, entrepreneurship support, community and social media advocacy campaigns, non-formal education for youth in grades 7-12, career guidance and employability for university students, and the development of safe spaces for youth in marginalized areas in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Note: These represent current awards administered by USAID/West Bank and Gaza. The dollar amounts are the technical estimated costs of the award over the full period of performance and outyear funding is subject to availability of funding.
