Bethlehem –SFI in partnership with the Youth Partnership Forum, organized a specialized training targeting cooperatives in the southern West Bank, as part of efforts to support and strengthen the role of cooperatives as an important tool for empowering local communities and enhancing their economic and social resilience.

The training was divided into two main parts: the first focused on the concepts and fundamentals of cooperative work, including the laws and regulations governing the sector and effective management mechanisms for cooperatives. The second part was dedicated to presenting successful past cooperative experiences, with the aim of inspiring participants and learning from the lessons and challenges they faced.

A number of cooperative owners and representatives from the region took part in the training, engaging in an open discussion on the importance of cooperative work as a solidarity-based approach that enhances opportunities for local production and encourages self-reliance, in addition to its role in addressing growing economic challenges. The participants also had the opportunity to exchange experiences and explore ways to further develop their cooperatives to better serve the community.

The organizers emphasized that this workshop is part of a broader series of activities aimed at supporting and developing cooperatives, and at building an active cooperative network capable of creating tangible impact in local communities

particularly under the difficult economic circumstances Palestinians are facing