MA'AN Hub, an initiative of the MA'AN Development Center, successfully concluded a series of Bootcamp and Hackathon activities implemented under the NOUR Project, bringing together more than 120 women entrepreneurs from the governorates of Jerusalem, Hebron, and Ramallah. The activities formed part of a comprehensive entrepreneurship support program designed to strengthen women-led businesses, enhance their growth potential, and promote long-term sustainability, in line with the vision and mission of the MA'AN Development Center.
Held between 19 and 23 July 2026, the Bootcamp and Hackathon represented one of the project's key milestones. Participants completed an intensive hands-on training program covering essential business development skills, including market analysis, financial planning, pricing strategies, customer acquisition, and pitching techniques. The program enabled participants to gain practical knowledge tailored to the needs and realities of the Palestinian market.
The MA'AN Hub is committed to investing in women's entrepreneurship as a key driver of sustainable economic development. Palestinian women continue to face significant barriers to accessing finance and business opportunities due to the challenging economic, political, and social context in Palestine. The NOUR Project addresses these challenges by providing an integrated support ecosystem that combines training, mentoring, access to finance, and networking opportunities, enabling women to establish and grow sustainable businesses. In this context, Mr. Sami Khader, General Director of the MA'AN Development Center, stated: "The NOUR Project is built around two complementary tracks aimed at strengthening women's economic participation. The first supports women with innovative business ideas in transforming those ideas into sustainable enterprises, while the second focuses on strengthening existing women-led businesses to enhance their growth, competitiveness, and market expansion. Through this project, MA'AN Development Center reaffirms its commitment to women's economic empowerment, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, and contributing to sustainable economic development in Palestine. The project also seeks to build a more resilient and innovative ecosystem for women entrepreneurs that contributes meaningfully to the Palestinian economy."
During the activities, Ms. Ghadeer Arafa, Environmental Specialist at the MA'AN Development Center, delivered a specialized session on integrating environmental sustainability into entrepreneurial ideas and existing businesses. She highlighted practical approaches that enable women entrepreneurs to develop more sustainable, resource-efficient, and environmentally responsible business models, while strengthening their competitiveness and reducing environmental risks.
Ms. Sareen Houso, Gender Mainstreaming Specialist at the MA'AN Development Center, also delivered a session on safeguarding principles and mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all participants. Her presentation covered protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and discrimination, as well as available reporting and complaints mechanisms, reinforcing women's right to participate in development programs with dignity and safety.
The MA'AN Hub serves as the executive arm of the MA'AN Development Center's Economic and Social Empowerment Program, providing a comprehensive package of business incubation, acceleration, capacity building, mentoring, business advisory services, access to finance, and market linkages at both the local and international levels. Since its establishment, the Hub has supported more than 10,000 entrepreneurs across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The NOUR Project will now move into its next phase with preparations for the Pitching Stage, during which shortlisted participants will present their business ideas before a specialized evaluation committee. A total of 85 women entrepreneurs will be selected to receive financial grants.
Over its 15-month implementation period, the project will continue delivering specialized training and mentoring programs, alongside field visits for project assessment and follow-up to ensure business growth and sustainability. Through these interventions, the project aims to strengthen the economic empowerment of Palestinian women, expand their participation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, transform innovative ideas into viable businesses, and support the development of existing enterprises, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more resilient Palestinian economy.
This activity is funded by the World Bank, through the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and managed by the NGO Development Center (NDC).
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