MICROFINANCE, YOUTH AND CONFLICT : WEST BANK STUDY

 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This study on Microfinance, Youth and Conflict in the West Bank is
part of the Microfinance, Youth and Conflict research initiative under
the USAID-funded Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement
Program (AMAP) Financial Services Knowledge Generation Task
Order #1 and the USAID-funded EQUIP3 (Education Quality
Improvement Program) mechanism1. This research initiative is a
partnership between Chemonics, Education Development Center,
Inc., and USAID’s Offices of Microenterprise Development and
Education, and represents an important collaboration between youth
and microfinance specialists. The primary objective is to collect
information on current practices and opportunities for microfinance
with youth in conflict-affected areas. The results of this initiative are
intended to provide guidance to donors and practitioners for making
sound decisions for youth and microfinance programming in conflictaffected
areas.

INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH INITIATIVE
This study on Microfinance, Youth and Conflict in the West Bank is
part of the Microfinance, Youth and Conflict research initiative under
the USAID-funded Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Program
(AMAP) Financial Services Knowledge Generation Task Order #1 and
the USAID-funded EQUIP3 (Education Quality Improvement
Program) mechanism. This research initiative is a partnership between
Chemonics, Education Development Center, Inc., and USAID’s
Offices of Microenterprise Development and Education, and represents
an important collaboration between youth and microfinance specialists.
The primary objective of the research initiative is to collect information
on current practices and opportunities for enterprise development,
specifically microfinance, with youth in conflict-affected areas. The
results are intended to provide guidance to donors and practitioners for
making sound decisions for youth and microfinance programming in
conflict-affected areas. The intended audience for this case study is: (i)
USAID field missions; (ii) USAID/USG offices; and (iii) development
practitioners, such as staff of microfinance institutions (MFIs), relief
organizations, and youth-serving organizations (YSOs).