Ahead of the government’s next five-year plan for Arab society, two public policy workshops were held for representatives of civil society organisations, in partnership with the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy and led by Hassan Towafra, previously Director of the Authority for Economic Development of Arab Society. The workshops were designed to strengthen the capacity of organisations to engage in policy development, influence public priorities and resource allocation, and support the effective implementation of policy on the ground. The initiative plays an integral part of the Arab Community Programme’s strategy to strengthen the professional foundations of civil society and broaden its influence on decision making and public policy.
Resala-Tech – a subsidiary of the Lotus hi-tech hub – recently led a series of sessions in partnership with Be-Atzmi as part of efforts to expose Bedouin youth in the Negev to the maker movement – a global community designing and experimenting with technology through hands-on projects – and artificial intelligence. By experimenting with these tools, participants developed skills, creativity and a sense of self-efficacy, helping prepare them for further learning and meaningful integration into the workforce.