Project profile — Technology Enabled Careers Harnessing Untapped Potential

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced barriers to entrepreneurship, employment and/or employability faced by women and youth; (2) improved technical skills for women and youth; (3) improved ability of women and youth to earn income through tech-enabled employment; (4) increased targeted support for young women entrepreneurs; and (5) increased access for women and youth entrepreneurs to resources necessary to create a viable start-up.

Results achieved as of March 2020 include: (1) 95% (of which 93% were women) of 280 graduates (including 166 women) reported reduced barriers at the end of the training period, exceeding the target of 70%; (2) 54% of graduates continue to earn an average monthly income of $300 USD or more six months post-program, exceeding the target of 50%; (3) Freelance Academy graduates generated an income of over $345,000 USD (women: $173,700, men: $171,800) by completing over 3,850 (including 1,930 women) freelance gig jobs. The graduates also referred jobs to 333 individuals, who in turn generated a further $56,000 USD; (4) 99% of women Freelance Academy participants reported that freelancing provided the flexibility to earn an income and manage family obligations, as tech-enabled employment offers appropriate opportunities for women who face challenges working outside their home, providing flexible working hours and reducing concerns regarding transportation and access to safe spaces; and (4) from the first cohort of the start-up accelerator program, 67% (of which 80% were women) of the Gaza-based start-ups are still active with cumulative revenue of $31,000 USD since founding