Women’s Economic Empowerment through Decent Work

The gender disparities of the labour force participation in Palestine are largely linked to an exceptional economic, social and cultural system and contexts, along with a lack of a supportive environment for women's entrepreneurship. Much of the female labour force concentrates in low-skilled, nonsustainable and low-income generating economic activities including part-time, seasonal and casual work. Additionally, due to a lack of non-traditional vocational and technical training and inadequate alternative sources of financing, a large number of Palestinian women are discouraged from setting off their own business.

UN Women’s approach promotes Palestinian women’s economic empowerment (WEE) by addressing constraints that operate at the individual level in order to disempower women and entrench gender inequalities in society.  At the same time, while a woman’s agency might be individually held, it is created and supported by collective action; the programme is focusing on assisting women organizing themselves and in establishing networks and associations that represent their interests. UN Women supports more gender-sensitive national policies and frameworks aiming at promoting women’s equal access to economic opportunities and decent work in Palestine.