East Jerusalem is one of the areas with the fewest development opportunities for the Palestinian population. It has the lowest unemployment rate in the West Bank (6.5%), yet also the lowest labor force participation (35.9%).

In this context, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is crucial for social and economic development.

Thus, this project is presented as a pilot experience to test how TVET oriented towards urban agriculture can reduce the vulnerability of excluded social groups and improve employability and job creation.

This initial experience will lay the necessary groundwork to scale up the intervention with:

The project will involve young people —especially women— from the areas of Beit Hanina, the Old City, Silwan, Al-Tour, Isawiya, Al-Mukabir, Sur Baher, and Kafr Aqab, which have very low education levels (approximately 38% of those over 18 have not completed 12 years of schooling). They also face gender stereotypes (which limit equal opportunities and relegate women to “feminized” sectors such as education and services) and other issues related to movement restrictions.

Vocational training will enhance their employability, and updating training curricula and raising awareness about the role of TVET will be vectors for empowerment and economic development.