Business Women Forum, in partnership with Bank of Palestine, launched a training program and “I am an Entrepreneur” Contest to select the best business plan among women entrepreneurs during 2016. The contest aims to promote the competitive spirit between women entrepreneurs and help them fulfill their ambitions, as well as to encourage them to start or develop their own businesses.
Since 2011, the Business Women Forum targets young women entrepreneurs throughout this program to develop their skills and capabilities, in order to enable them to develop business plans or apply business ideas. The women entrepreneurs receive intensive trainings in developing business plans for their businesses or business ideas in order to help them create new job opportunities among the targeted group. This is one of several programs implemented by the Forum, through the Business Development Center, the Forum’s technical arm, which provides all types of assistance in order to advance the businesses owned by women in Palestine.
This program is an integral part of “Felestineya” program, and is a part of the non-financial advisory services provided by the Bank, due to its belief in empowering Palestinian women; a comprehensive program for all members of the society, including the Bank’s customers and the public. These services are provided through an integrated package of programs that aim to provide support within the administrative and financial fields, and teaches the optimal utilization of the banking services, as well as providing various information in several fields related to their business.
The Bank’s collaboration with the Forum on this program since 2014 aims to enhance the knowledge, awareness, administrative and other capabilities of Palestinian women, and improve their ability to manage their businesses, in order to contribute in the development process and enhance the productivity. The terms to join “I am an Entrepreneur” contest is for the women to have serious ideas for businesses, or have an existing project, and have the ability to develop their own profitable businesses. The contestants shall receive intensive training in writing business plans, including consultations to develop or start their own businesses; they will also receive guidance from the Business Development Center, the Forum’s technical arm, who shall connect them with new markets and sources of funding for capital.
The first-place winner will receive a prize in the value of USD5,000, while the second and third-place winners will each receive a prize in the value of USD2,500. By launching this contest, the Bank aims to encourage Palestinian businesswomen and women entrepreneurs to enter the business world and actively participate in advancing the productivity, as well as employing labor, towards continuous improvement, growth and development, in addition to promoting the Palestinian women’s participation in the fields of business and economy.
The Business Women Forum is a national non-profit association established in 2006, to help “strengthen the role of businesswomen and women entrepreneurs as leaders in the Palestinian economy through advocacy, networking with local and international organizations, and the provision of the needed business services”.