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The IDB Innovative Program "DEEP" a Pathfinder of Economic Empowerment in Palestine
Poverty and unemployment rates in Palestine are still imposing a serious challenge; about one out of three individuals (29.2 percent) were living below the poverty level in 2017[1]. Gaza Strip contributes more to national poverty than the West Bank; its share of the poor population is 71.2 percent compared to 28.8 percent of the West Bank[2].
Economic growth is the most powerful instrument for reducing poverty and improving the quality of life. In the case of Palestine, despite the increase of the Gross Domestic Product, this has not been noticeably reflected on reducing poverty and unemployment rates; on the contrary, there was an inverse relationship between poverty rate and GDP increase.[3]
Out of this situation, The Islamic Development Bank “IsDB” in Jeddah, initiate the creation and the design of an innovative initiative in Palestine called DEEP. The Palestinian People Economic Empowerment Program (DEEP) has emerged in 2006 to empower the poor and marginalized Palestinians and transfer them from being dependent on humanitarian assistance and charity aid to being dependent on themselves.
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