United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 aims to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

As part of KAICIID's Faith4SDGs digital storytelling project, we will screen a short film highlighting the work of the DEEP Project, an economic empowerment initiative established in 2007 by the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) and operated in partnership with UNDP, the Palestinian Authority and the Ministry of Social Affairs. The DEEP project provides access to decent work for women and youth in Palestine, which is desperately needed due to the current economic situation.

Nearly 29 per cent of Palestine’s labour force is unemployed and women and youth face the biggest barriers to employment. 85 per cent of women with university degrees are unable to find jobs after graduation. 

The global pandemic has greatly diminished their prospects and disrupted labour markets around the world. 500 million full-time jobs or their equivalent were lost in the second quarter of 2020. In the informal economy, 1.6 billion workers’ livelihoods still hang in the balance. This ongoing economic and social disruption has risked progress made on gender equality in recent decades and profoundly threatened the long-term prosperity and wellbeing of vulnerable communities everywhere.

This webinar will discuss the role of faith communities in economic empowerment as well as ways to ensure inclusive and productive empoyment. Speakers will also look at how faith communities are providing funding for small businesses and investing in community-led projects and systems for inclusive employment opportunities. 

You are encouraged to submit questions and topics to be explored during our Q&A session!