There is no doubt that women have become a key element in the economic development in Palestine.  Most of them have had rigorous and trying experiences that have forced them to strengthen their personalities and roles in life; they now show marked success in running their micro enterprises-a field that had been previously restricted to men due to many related obstacles.

Statistics show that, at the very peak, women participating in the formally paid labor force do not exceed 11.6%. At the same time, the very lowest male participation in the formally paid labor force was 67%.  Obviously, women are excluded from participation in the labor force; thus limiting her economic role to the informal sector. The statistics directly  support the common social and cultural concept that the formal jobs should provide men with opportunities and security, resulting in 93.1% of women being excluded from the labor force.

• Absence of governmental policies to encourage women lending

Studies and statistics emphasis that the number of men benefiting from services provided by credit institutes and commercial banks are greater than the number of women; this does not necessarily mean that such institutes discriminate against women but rather that such institutes adhere to social, cultural and behavioral concepts which assume that such services are better invested in men-which unfortunately puts women in a lower position. Further, credit institutes are few with limited financial resources.  Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) that exclusively serve women are not more than 4.8% of total MFI's and commercial banks in Palestine.

• Continuous efforts to finance women's projects

The Palestinian Businesswomen's Association "ASALA" is one of the MFIs that was designed, since its establishment, to specifically and exclusively serve Palestinian women.  Services are comprehensive in that the Association not only provides the woman with a flexible loan, but also training, counseling, technical and managerial consultancies and continuous mentoring and advising. Asala was created to empower women in every way possible.  Since its establishment in 1997 ASALA financed over 11,000 loans to women throughout the West Bank and Gaza strip; 47% commercial projects, 14% production projects, 29% agricultural projects and 10% for service projects.

• Women and suitcase trade Since the closure of Gaza in 2006, Palestinian women again proved their ability to endure and succeed in economic activities in order to ensure her survival and that of her family.  Gazan women, with no more that $500, began traveling to Al Areesh city in Egypt (which is very close to Gaza) and purchasing simple goods and necessities such as clothes, cosmetics, food, cigarettes, etc., and bringing them back to be sold in the Gaza public market; so-called ‘suitcase trade'. Currently, some 32%  of women commercial projects in Gaza strip are suitcase traders commuting through Rafah Gate border, Gaza to Al Areesh city, Egypt and then straight to the Gaza public market.  
• Suitcase without trade

Subhia Abu Fol is a 55 year old woman who lives in Jabalia.  She has been a widow for 16 years and is the bread winner for the ten members of her family. She was able to raise her children by herself with support  from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the United Nations.  When the needs of her children increased  she started raising cattle and making milk and cheese products to fulfill her family's needs.  Later, she changed her business to ‘suitcase trade'. As a suitcase trader, she began selling her goods in Jabalia.  Her business grew, and the success encouraged her to rent a spot in a local peddler's market. Subhia came to Asala and was granted  a $500 loan.  She used this money to travel to Egypt and buy some goods and repaid the loan on time. The salary crisis caused her business to dwindle, and she was forced to give up her rented spot.  She moved to a free, but busy location on an active street. She received a second loan from Asala for $1000.  The fuel crises made it difficult for her to come to Gaza city everyday from Jabalia.  Much worse, her eldest son was killed by the Israeli military.  Aside from the emotional trauma, she was now also responsible for supporting his family. Yet she repaid the second loan on time. Around this time, she began raising and selling chickens to secure income for her now even larger family.

Challenge and determination

Ghada K. Al Akhras is a 23 year old woman who lives in the Maghazi camp in Gaza.   She is the eldest daughter of a poor, 6-member family. She and two of her brothers are studying in university.  Her mother is the family's breadwinner, as her father is deceased.  The family's living conditions are very dire, and Ghada was forced to leave university in order to spare her mother the extra expense.   Ghada was granted a $200 loan  from Asala's Deir el Balah office, which she used to start a suitcase trade project. She went to Egypt with other women from the same neighborhood, came back with a suitcase of supplies and successfully sold them. Her project worked fine; she covered her expenses, the monthly payments on the loan, and was also able to re-enroll in university.  She took a second loan and did very well until the border closed and she could not travel anymore.  She sold all of her goods, repaid the loan, graduated from university and now works at the public library and enjoys a humble but stable monthly salary. Alongside her job, she also continues to help her mother selling clothes in the market.

The Palestinian Businesswomen's Association "ASALA"

The above stories are only a sample of Palestinian women who have proven their ability to survive, sustain their families, and even prosper despite dreadful circumstances.  Circumstances such as the salary crisis, fuel crisis, border blockade, internal and external conflicts, and more do not stop Palestinian women from working against the odds to provide for their loved ones. Asala has always believed in the strength and endurance that is alive in every single Palestinian woman and will continue in its efforts to empower Palestinian women.

Samy Hamoudeh

Regional Manager/Asala/Gaza

*This article was published in the Palestinian Network for Small and Microfinance's newsletter July 2008