The Road to the SDGs

PURPOSE X The IsDB’s Economic Empowerment Fund for the Palestinian People (EEFPP) is a US$ 500 million impact investment vehicle/fund that provides blended finance in the form of equity capital and structured financing, in addition to technical assistance. X The EEFPP goal is to reduce poverty, empower the poor, lessen aid-dependency amongst the Palestinian people and develop a solid and sustainable ecosystem, transforming the poor from mere recipients of financing to real business partners. X The EEFPP will contribute to strengthening the involvement of youth and poor families in local value chains through a variety of projects. In doing so, it is fully compatible with IsDB’s new business model and GVC approach. X The economic empowerment approach, as envisioned by the P5P, will be a catalyst and facilitator for IsDB’s implementing partners to act as market developers. X EEFPP objectives: – Improve the livelihood and resilience of youth, poor and marginalised groups in Palestine – Achieve financial and social returns with measurable impact – Provide an investment platform to channel financial and non-financial resources to MSMEs, cooperatives, unions and solidarity groups, among others, in accordance with Islamic principles. METHOD X The EEFPP applies global best practices in governance and investment management in its work with poor and unemployed youth in Palestine. A seasoned external fund manager (GP) with international experience and strong track record in impact investments will be hired to manage the investments and operations of the EEFPP. X The EEFPP builds on the successes of the Deprived Families Economic Empowerment Programme (DEEP), an IsDB economic empowerment pilot programme that achieved tangible success in its objective of promoting Islamic microfinance in Palestine and focuses on: – Economic viability standards – Investment concepts (cost and profit) – Advanced mechanisms, knowledge and field experience that work in harmony to create the desired social and economic goals. X To take advantage of the successful DEEP initiative and its economic and social Economic Empowerment Fund for the Palestinian People A new fund set up by IsDB will assist more than 300,000 Palestinian families over the next decade The EEFPP has successfully built an attractive pipeline of investment projects and financing opportunities [ 130 ] SDGs