Impact through Technology 2 CMM Program

The program fosters economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector, with ICT serving as a catalyst to provide Israelis and Palestinians with the means and motivation to work together. Three main objectives guide the program: Objective 1, which strengthens cooperative peace advocacy initiatives with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, NGOs, and youth; Objective 2, which develops the ICT capacity of Palestinian youth in partnership with Israeli and international ICT companies; and Objective 3, which promotes cooperative economic partnerships between Israeli and Palestinian private sector actors and entrepreneurs in the ICT sector. To achieve these objectives, Mercy Corps implements the program through a multi-tiered approach, targeting young Palestinians and Israelis interested in technology and entrepreneurship. This is achieved through a series of integrated joint trainings, professional Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications, internships, entrepreneurial events, business networking visits, and cross-border business partnerships. During this quarter, the program organized social media workshops/trainings in Jerusalem, with 166 youth participants attending the training sessions. The training sessions brought together Palestinian and Israeli youth participants to collaborate and build connections, harnessing their common interest in technology while fostering relationships between Israeli and Palestinian youth and building advocacy and social media skills. The program also continued support for the internships of Palestinians in cooperation with four technology companies, adding five new unemployed Palestinians to the internship program, exceeding the set target of eight. This brings the overall total to nine interns, providing them with valuable work experience and skills in the ICT sector. The program's success is remarkable, despite the challenges posed by the security situation in the region. The program's ability to adapt and continue its activities has allowed it to achieve significant progress toward changing lives by using technology to promote cooperation and mitigate conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.