Market Assessment for Envision Gaza 2020

The program aims to build resilience and self-reliance in vulnerable populations in Gaza through targeted emergency assistance and the expansion of employment opportunities. The program consists of two main axes: emergency assistance and the expansion of employment and rehabilitation of livelihoods. Emergency assistance is the primary focus of the market assessment, which prepares for the design of a strategy to deliver the highest valued food and non-food items to the most vulnerable households in Gaza. The assessment considers both the current existing needs and the expected needs in the event of a new large-scale disaster or smaller-scale community-level disasters. The existing needs in Gaza are the cumulative result of a protracted refugee crisis, an economic blockade, and three eruptions of violent conflict in a period of 6 years. The program will reach 1,800 households with monthly food vouchers and 7,150 households with non-food item vouchers in the first year. Additionally, the Emergency Rapid Response (ERR) mechanism will be activated as needed to provide a swift humanitarian response, estimated to reach a minimum of 143,000 beneficiaries over the life of the project. The expansion of employment and rehabilitation of livelihoods will provide opportunities for 10,135 Gazans to gain cash-for-work opportunities, 2,100 to participate in cash-for-internship and cash-for-apprenticeship programs, 1,150 to receive entrepreneurship training, and 150 businesses to receive small capital grants. The market assessment is essential for providing people access to basic goods and services, for people's livelihoods, and for economic development. Disrupting or ignoring markets before, during, or after an emergency can weaken people's access to basic goods, services, and income-generating opportunities and can destroy or delay the ability of people to return to their livelihoods. The humanitarian context in Gaza is characterized by a protracted refugee crisis, an economic blockade, and three eruptions of violent conflict in a period of 6 years. The population of Gaza is approximately 1.8 million people, with a significant proportion living in poverty and relying on humanitarian assistance. The economic blockade has severely impacted the local economy, leading to high levels of unemployment and poverty. The response mechanisms in Gaza include coordination, in-kind distribution, and cash vouchers. The coordination mechanism involves working with local partners and stakeholders to ensure a timely and effective response to emergencies. In-kind distribution involves providing food and non-food items to affected households, while cash vouchers provide households with the means to purchase essential items. The market for food and non-food items in Gaza is characterized by a high level of dependence on imports, particularly from Israel. The supply chain is complex, with multiple actors involved in the distribution of goods. The market assessment identifies the current existing needs and expected needs in the event of a new large-scale disaster or smaller-scale community-level disasters. The beneficiary preferences in Gaza are shaped by the humanitarian context and the economic blockade. Consumers prioritize basic goods and services, such as food, water, and shelter. The preferred modalities for assistance include cash vouchers, in-kind distribution, and cash-based transfers. The market assessment provides recommendations for the design of a strategy to deliver the highest valued food and non-food items to the most vulnerable households in Gaza. The conclusions and recommendations of the market assessment emphasize the importance of markets in providing people access to basic goods and services, for people's livelihoods, and for economic development. The assessment recommends that the Envision Gaza 2020 program prioritize the expansion of employment and rehabilitation of livelihoods, as well as the development of a mechanism to respond timely and appropriately in the event of a new disaster striking Gaza.