Palestinian Investment Fund Wins Two Second Place Awards at the Arab Award for Social Responsibility and Sustainability for 2025

SadaNews - The Palestinian Investment Fund, through its community investment arm "Palestine Development Foundation," has won two second place awards in the 18th edition of the Arab Award for Social Responsibility and Sustainability announced in Dubai, in the categories of social institutions and partnerships and cooperation, reaffirming the foundation's leadership position locally and Arab-wide in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

The Palestine Development Foundation won second place in the social institutions category in recognition of its qualitative programs that combine social impact with sustainable development, including the Jerusalem Green Energy and Sustainability Program, the Development Impact Bonds Program, and the Gaza Financing Program, along with a wide range of programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the resilience of the Palestinian community and empowering it economically and socially.

The foundation also received second place in the partnerships and cooperation category through the Development Impact Bonds Program – results-based financing – implemented in partnership with local and international institutions, aiming to close the gap between educational outputs and labor market needs by qualifying and training Palestinian youth in in-demand specialties, thus enhancing their employment opportunities and increasing their competitiveness in the job market.

The fund contributes to this program in partnership with several international institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Dutch Development Bank, and the Chilean-Palestinian Investment Fund. The fund participates in this program as the first development impact bonds focused on skills development and employment for Palestinian youth by the "Financing for Job Creation" project, designed by Social Finance UK and implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) for the Ministry of Finance, financed by the World Bank.

This year's award witnessed wide participation, with 141 applications from 109 institutions representing 10 Arab countries, where new competitors made up 41% of total entries, reflecting the continuous growth in the interest of Arab institutions in environmental, social, and governance practices, and the increasing awareness of the importance of sustainable practices in achieving long-term development.

Iyad Jawad, Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian Investment Fund, said: "Winning this award for the second consecutive year embodies the fund's deep commitment to its national and community responsibilities, and demonstrates that investing in people and the community is an integral part of our mission. This award represents not just recognition of specific projects but is the culmination of a comprehensive approach to developmental work based on partnerships with the public and private sectors, civil society, and the private sector." 

He added: "This award is a testament to the ability of Palestinian institutions to compete regionally and to present practical and tangible models in social and economic development. It is also an Arab recognition of the pivotal role played by the Palestine Development Foundation in implementing the Palestinian Investment Fund's strategy aimed at empowering the community and enhancing its resilience and the sustainability of its institutions." 

It is noteworthy that the Palestinian Investment Fund implements a comprehensive community responsibility program through the Palestine Development Foundation, aiming to support community and developmental initiatives and projects across various sectors, in addition to supporting local institutions working in economic and social development in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The fund pays special attention to projects that contribute to enhancing the resilience of citizens and improving basic services such as education, energy, and water, in line with its overall strategy aimed at building a sustainable national economy that enhances the independence of Palestinian economic decision-making. 

Earlier, the Palestinian Investment Fund launched a comprehensive strategy for the next three years to align with the recently emerged needs and requirements. The strategy is based on several axes, including investment in urgent and necessary sectors for economic empowerment such as infrastructure, including the water, energy, and communications sectors, as well as the infrastructure of industry, enhancing national production by promoting the industrial and agricultural sectors, healthcare, and information technology to increase the share of national products in the Palestinian market, attracting and boosting local and international investments targeting development, stabilizing the Palestine Stock Exchange, and enhancing the governance of the fund while creating a more effective working environment with fewer resources.

The Arab Award for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, launched in 2008, is one of the first platforms specializing in honoring institutional excellence in this field. The award began at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council and then expanded to include various Arab countries, becoming today a prestigious global platform representing an Arab standard for institutional sustainability and social innovation, based on the highest international standards such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).