Al-Quds University and the International Labor Organization (ILO) signed a partnership agreement during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Labor, in the presence of the University President, Prof. Imad Abu Kishek, along with representatives of donors and partners to celebrate an important step towards empowering Palestinian youth through cooperative entrepreneurship and social innovation.

The project is part of the Cooperative Support Program for Palestine (CSP-OPT), funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The agreement integrates the ILO’s Think.COOP and Start.COOP tools into Al-Quds University’s incubator programs, paving the way for innovative collaborative models, entrepreneurial training, and financial support for youth-led entrepreneurial ventures in technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and digital media.

Speakers representing the parties to the agreement emphasized the importance of integrating efforts to address youth unemployment and promote inclusive economic growth, noting that they look forward to supporting the next generation of Palestinian innovators and strengthening the foundations of cooperation for long-term sustainable prosperity.

The signing ceremony concluded with a number of key steps: Launching a competition for cooperative business plans aimed at discovering and supporting creative and socially impactful cooperative models; developing specialized training and mentorship programs to enhance the skills of budding entrepreneurs; and providing sustainable investment opportunities that support youth projects and enhance economic and social resilience in the occupied Palestinian territory.