The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

Affordable credit
The vast majority of loan beneficiaries are unable to secure affordable
credit from commercial banks, yet they are able to repay. These loans
enable the entrepreneurs to generate sustainable incomes for them -
selves, their families and employees, many of whom are drawn from
the poorest segments of society.
Sustainability
The microfinance department works in accordance with the global standards
and best practices of the microfinance industry. The services are
based on the understanding that microcredit and related financial services
should be sustainable. Aimed to recoup the operating expenses,
while charging rates of interest that are affordable to the clients and
competitive with other microfinance providers. The programme strives
to make the outreach operations as cost-effective as possible, by focus -
ing our work on poor urban areas, which are centres of commercial and
industrial activity and host a high concentration of Palestinian refugees.
Supporting women
Empowering women, who face additional difficulties as entrepreneurs,
has been an integral part of UNRWA work. Some 30% of our loans have
been to woman micro-entrepreneurs.
Infrastructure
The Agency works for camp improvement in all eight camps, through
environmental health services, shelter reconstruction and rehabilitation
and infrastructure maintenance and construction.
Large-scale, donor-funded re-housing projects remain frozen as a result
of the blockade on Gaza and its associated ban on imports of building
materials.
Emergency programme
In the last ten years UNRWA in Gaza has implemented emergency measures
in response to security and economic crises caused by Israeli military
actions and the ongoing closure regime by providing short-term
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