Building on the experience of Ibtikar’s Youth Business Coaches (YBCs) programme, the Empowering Women-Led Enterprises Through Enhanced Coaching and Practical Skills Development project supports women entrepreneurs across the southern West Bank through tailored training, sustained coaching, and practical business development support.

Structured around three coaching cycles, the programme has engaged more than 60 women entrepreneurs, addressing the specific needs and challenges of their enterprises rather than relying on generic business-development approaches.

Support focuses on practical areas that directly influence business growth, including pricing, financial management, branding, product development, digital marketing, and customer engagement. Trained youth business coaches accompany entrepreneurs throughout the process, helping them apply learning to real business decisions, test solutions, respond to challenges, and translate knowledge into day-to-day business practice.

The programme places particular emphasis on women working in informal, home-based, or marginalised settings, while also encouraging collaborative learning among women entrepreneurs. This creates space for participants to exchange experiences, discuss shared challenges, and learn from one another.

Alongside its direct support to women-led enterprises, the project strengthens Ibtikar’s Youth Business Coaches unit. Coaches develop their skills in coaching, facilitation, advanced problem solving, and design thinking, contributing to a locally rooted mentorship structure capable of providing sustained support to entrepreneurs.

Through this approach, the programme contributes to stronger business management, greater confidence, improved market engagement, and expanded opportunities for longer-term growth among women-led enterprises. At the same time, it creates leadership opportunities for young business coaches and strengthens locally based entrepreneurial support.