The entrepreneurship and freelancing sector has gained a prominent and unique role in the Gaza Strip under an umbrella of creativity and perseverance marred by circumstances that can only be described as exceptional. Despite the economic blockade imposed for many years and the accompanying challenges, young Gazans have been able to achieve remarkable achievements in the fields of technology, design, software development, digital marketing, and other sectors that rely on digital and creative skills.

The reality of entrepreneurship and freelancing in Gaza

Like a child who is a man in himself, the entrepreneurship sector has grown remarkably, interspersed with various stumbling blocks, during the past decade in the Gaza Strip in particular. This transitional leap can be summed up by several factors, including the spread of the Internet in every home and institution, forming a bridge that reaches the world, as well as increasing awareness of the importance of freelancing, and the existence of training programs and financing initiatives that support small and emerging projects.

Technological development is perhaps one of the most prominent features of the modern era, and this makes it obvious to look deeply into the new reality imposed by this development, as Arab and foreign freelance platforms have become a window for Gazan youth to global markets, which has given them the opportunity to achieve financial income and economic independence away from the limited local labor market. Business incubators have also played a pivotal role in supporting emerging projects by providing training, guidance, and financing opportunities.

Being an entrepreneur, you are not safe from the wind

Gaza has documented - despite its very complex circumstances - a wide range of success stories in this sector, but there are still stumbling blocks recorded in front of many challenges that vary in their pace and according to the circumstances they are going through, including:

First: The difficulty of traveling and moving between global experiences.

A sector of entrepreneurship would not have flourished without the spark of globalization that started in the mid-twentieth century, and this in turn takes us to the obvious idea that contact with experiences regardless of geographical separations. This is unfortunately the most prominent thing that Gaza has been suffering from in the last two decades, until it turned into a clear humanitarian disaster that began after October 7.

Second: The collapse of the infrastructure

When talking about the infrastructure, it can be summarized as a set of alternatives that the youth of Gaza have employed as solutions to the lack of basic methods and means for the entrepreneurship system, in an effort to reach a semi-integrated system that serves the freelance work and entrepreneurship system, and this includes logistical solutions such as electricity, internet, and spare parts for electronic devices that are relied upon in this sector.

Third: The destabilization of the economic ground

Unfortunately, the foundations of the entrepreneurship and freelance work sector are based on a ground that has been suffering from stability for a long time, and are affected by several factors that make them change their course in more than one way, and therefore it is necessary to have a continuous emergency plan in the long term.

Fourth: Recurring wars and lack of security

Wars destroy the most powerful and stable projects, so how about projects and opportunities that are based on factors that are not strong by nature. Wars create an atmosphere of psychological and material instability, which reduces opportunities for growth and business continuity.

Features of the reality of entrepreneurship and freelance work after sixteen months of war

October 7th comes, the date on which all the threads of the scattered stories come together to become a setback in the reality of the incubators that were once close by distance, but the war made them further from everything despite its harshness. It cannot be said that the war has destroyed the freelance work and entrepreneurship sector in its entirety, but what cannot be hidden is that it has received the most painful blows in its history ever, which led to:

More than 90% of projects stopped due to the destruction of buildings, offices and infrastructure.

Funding opportunities declined as a result of donors directing their efforts towards emergency relief instead of supporting sustainable development.

Communication lines with global clients were disrupted, leading to a loss of trust between the two parties.

Difficulty in implementing plans in the absence of security in the field

Shores of hope, and horizons towards a promising future

Despite the complexities of the scene, and the intertwining of challenges, the youth of Gaza remain the same source of inspiration and insistence on change, and looking at the reality sees that what the youth of Gaza have provided during the recent period can be relied upon strongly to fill any gap that may be created by recurring crises, if it is necessary, then support is necessary in various areas, the most important of which are:

Adopt a convincing professional narrative before influential parties in the entrepreneurship and freelance sector that will facilitate participation and contribution at the international, national and local levels

Enhance support for entrepreneurial incubators and accelerators.

Improving infrastructure by investing in alternative energy and the Internet.

Developing financing programs dedicated to the recovery phase after wars.

Highlighting success stories to enhance confidence in the capabilities of local entrepreneurs.

"Taqat" when the name does not let down

The "Taqat" initiative emerged - in light of the recurring crises that the Gaza Strip suffers from - as a pioneering model that provides support to entrepreneurs and freelancers during the recent war. Taqat played a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of war on this vital sector by providing innovative and rapid solutions to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and freelancers. It was distinguished by its ability to create sufficient and adequate solutions in a relatively short time.

A tune of life amidst the whistle of despair.. Taqat was and still is

With the outbreak of the recent war, Taqat launched its sail towards a series of measures and initiatives aimed at maintaining the sustainability of entrepreneurs' activities and supporting freelancers. The most prominent of these initiatives are:

Providing a safe and alternative work environment

Taqat realized that providing electricity and the Internet at the same time is the minimum infrastructure requirements through which freelancers and entrepreneurs can launch. Therefore, it equipped the work spaces in its first centers, supporting them with a solar energy system to provide electricity