Hebron is the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank. It has a very young population. Despite a very well developed university landscape and a population of above-average educational status, the city suffers from a high unemployment rate, especially among young graduates. The difficult economic situation caused by the ongoing tensions in the region has a negative impact on the job opportunities of young Palestinians. This means a great lack of prospects for the young generation.
The City of Mannheim has already been working with the City of Hebron in a municipal project partnership since 2013. With funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in a first Nakopa project Mannheim and Hebron improved the wastewater infrastructure in Hebron. As a result, more people now have access to clean drinking water. Currently, the focus of the cooperation is on promoting business start-ups for young people in Hebron.
New economic prospects thanks to start-up support
Since 2017, the municipalities have been working together in the project 'Hebron-Mannheim Co-Working Lab (HEMA)'. The overarching goal of the project is to establish a local start-up scene in Hebron, and promote start-ups in order to exploit economic potential in the region and create sustainable prospects for the population. To this end, a modern co-working lab was set up in Hebron with project funding from the German government. Young Palestinians can use the modern, collaborative workspace to set up businesses. The project is being implemented in close cooperation with the City of Mannheim's subsidiary NEXT MANNHEIM, which is contributing its many years of experience and expertise in promoting business start-ups. The unit is advising and training the staff in Hebron on implementing the project. As well as the infrastructure measures, a further cornerstone of the project is the transfer of skills through coaching and workshops.