The workshop provided a unique platform for participants to exchange views and experiences, focusing on ways to promote economic empowerment and social innovation in the face of the challenges confronting Palestine.

Dr. Imad Breik, "MedRiSSE" project’s Director and Director of the Technology Transfer Office at An-Najah University, emphasized the University's commitment to social justice through projects that prioritize the social solidarity economy.

The "MedRiSSE" project, funded by ENI-CBC-MED, seeks to expand knowledge and technology in Palestine through collaboration with partners from Spain, Italy, Tunisia, and Jordan, and aims to promote social inclusion and the solidarity economy, building on the success of previous initiatives such as the MoreThanAJob project, led by An-Najah National University.

Dr. Samah Saleh, Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at An-Najah University, highlighted the significance of fostering dialogue between various sectors to bridge gaps and find common solutions. She stressed the importance of launching new initiatives based on successful local and international experiences, aiming to combat poverty and unemployment in Palestine effectively.

Dr.Saleh also pointed out that the event aimed to promote dialogue between government organizations and small and medium enterprises on social innovations and economic empowerment as effective measures to combat poverty and unemployment in the Palestinian context.

The workshop comprised two sessions: The first session focused on challenges and prospects for social and economic empowerment, encompassing dialogue between governmental representatives and civil society stakeholders. The second session, titled "Social Entrepreneurship Success Stories: Facing Challenges," presented inspiring stories of social entrepreneurs who have overcome economic challenges and obstacles.

Geogia Karavangeli, Project Coordinator from ACPP-Spain, expressed her delight with the partnership and the focus on social innovation and solidarity economy principles. The primary objective of the "MedRiSSE" project is to promote the co-production of social policies to address poverty, inequality, social exclusion, and environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region. Through this initiative, a platform for co-production and social innovation has been developed to benefit beneficiaries from different countries.

The project involves eight partner institutions from five countries, including Spain, Italy, Palestine, Jordan, and Tunisia.

The event culminated with the presentation of several success stories in economic empowerment, including projects dedicated to creating entertaining educational books for children and other impactful initiatives in this field.

The success of this workshop builds upon the achievements of previous events, and An-Najah National University is proud to host this second edition, which furthers dialogue between the public and private sectors to address social and solidarity economy challenges from various perspectives. The insights gained during the workshop will propel the "MedRiSSE" project forward and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in the region.

The dialogue concluded with the exchange of recommendations and plans to foster ongoing cooperation and coordination between relevant authorities. An-Najah National University's commitment to promoting dialogue between the public and private sectors to advance the social and solidarity economy in Palestine remains steadfast. 

It is worth mentioning that the "MedRiSSE" project is a collaborative effort resulting from the integration of five projects funded by the European Union, including MedTOWN, MoreThanAJob, RUWOMED, MEDUP, and IESS. These projects have contributed significantly to the development of innovative solutions and sustainable socio-economic initiatives in the Mediterranean region. Through the consolidation of their achievements, "MedRiSSE" aims to further advance social innovation and promote the principles of solidarity economic mobility, fostering positive change and lasting impact for the communities involved.