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Projects
The Portland Trust works with a range of partners to implement initiatives to help develop the Palestinian private sector and relieve poverty through entrepreneurship and social investment in Israel. Programmes include the development of financial and economic infrastructure, housing, trade, social investment, training and entrepreneurship.
The Portland Trust’s Beyond Aid initiative identified five high-potential sectors in Palestine - agriculture, IT and entrepreneurship, tourism, construction and energy. In addition, the initiative also indicated a need to prioritise interventions aimed at improving infrastructure to enable sustainable growth across core economic sectors. The projects identified in the initiative form the core of The Portland Trust’s current activities in Palestine.
Within Israel The Portland Trust is focused on reducing poverty in the social periphery through the use of financial tools and economic development, in particular addressing Israeli Arab employment challenges and Israeli Arab participation in the successful Israeli hi-tech sector. We are also helping to develop a social capital market in Israel to create an efficient system for funding not-for-profits and social businesses, similar to mature financial markets which offer a variety of financing tools that together supply markets' liquidity requirements.
See below for lists of our projects, grouped by subject area:
Economic Infrastructure
During 2013 The Portland Trust, in partnership with a number of Palestinian business leaders, launched an initiative to develop a vision and create a practical plan of action to promote private sector-led, long-term growth and sustainable job creation in the Palestinian economy.
A mechanism designed to coordinate regional infrastructure development.
The Portland Trust work to help establish the foundations to supply the economy with more highly skilled graduates in computer science and engineering by focusing on educational gaps at secondary and tertiary level.
Financial Infrastructure
A private sector initiative designed to build affordable housing for new communities and neighbourhoods across the West Bank.
Identifying opportunities to decrease dependence on energy exports
Helping listed Palestinian companies access potential British investors.
A three-year project to strengthen the Palestinian microfinance sector.
Shefar'am Business Park has the Potential to Provide Quality Employment Opportunities and Industrial Development
A private sector grant leveraging programme to boost Palestinian economic development
Identifying ways in which the agriculture sector in the Palestinian Territory can better reach its potential, contribute to the growth of the economy and help improve the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians.
Trade and Investment
A financial intermediary which aims to provide both social and financial goals to its investors. It issues social-financial products in order to attract new capital for the most effective not-for-profit organisations in Israel.
Financial support for loan guarantees and technical assistance to small businesses in the poorer parts of southern and northern Israel.
A programme focused on the development of the local Palestinian tourism sector to meet the needs of domestic and international visitors.
Training and Entrepreneurship
Helping Israeli-Arab graduates participate in the Israeli hi-tech industry
An interactive programme that brought prominent global business leaders, international corporate trainers and professors to the Palestinian Territory.