Gaza: The United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Labor, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Gaza Income and Market Activation for Recovery (IMAR) programme.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, the MoU marks a significant step in promoting a Palestinian-driven framework for economic recovery in Gaza. The initiative aims to restore livelihoods, reactivate markets and industries, and enhance the resilience of the Palestinian economy through coordinated national efforts.
Aligned with the Palestinian Government's recovery priorities and the Gaza Recovery, Reconstruction and Development Plan, IMAR offers an integrated platform supporting enterprise recovery, market activation, employment generation, workforce development, and industrial revitalization. It also focuses on agriculture and innovative financing.
Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator, stated that the signing reflects a shared commitment to a recovery process that restores opportunity alongside infrastructure. IMAR is designed to support market reactivation, productive enterprises, and job creation while strengthening the resilience of Palestinian institutions and the private sector.
Minister of National Economy, Mohammad Al-Amour, highlighted the practical impact of the programme, which aims to reactivate markets, revitalize economic enterprises, and restore private sector capacity. The programme targets supporting up to 20,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and generating up to 100,000 job opportunities.
Minister of Industry, Arafat Asfour, emphasized that the partnership marks a crucial transition from emergency humanitarian response to sustainable economic recovery and rebuilding productive capacity. Minister of Labor, Enas Dahadha Attari, pointed out IMAR's strategic investment in restoring livelihoods and generating jobs, emphasizing ongoing efforts to create employment opportunities.
The programme, building on UNDP's work in economic resilience, represents a shift from short-term income support to market activation and private sector-led recovery. Through a phased approach, IMAR aims to recover micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and create jobs while enhancing value chains, expanding financial access, and mobilizing investment for sustainable growth. The MoU reaffirms the commitment to nationally owned recovery efforts, empowering institutions, and creating a resilient economy.