The F4J DIB I, the first Results-Based Financing (RBF) youth employment program in the MENA region utilizing the Development Impact Bond (DIB) financing model, has been awarded First Runner Up in the “Collaboration and Partnership category” the most competitive category in the 18th Cycle of the prestigious Arabia CSR and Sustainability Awards, held this October in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The award was presented to Mr. Jalil Hazboun, the Executive Director of the F4J Careerz program, Mr. Ahmed Zeidan, acting manager, and Ms. Balsam Qadoura, senior financial analyst, both at the Palestine for Development Foundation (PsDF), the non-profit and CSR arm of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF).
The F4J DIB employment program was recognized for its innovative financing model, which brought together a diverse group of partners: World Bank, Ministry of Finance, and DAI Global as outcome funders; PIF, SDO, EBRD, and FMO as investors and multiple service providers and Social Finance UK as DIB advisors. Together, these partners have enabled hundreds of Palestinian youth to secure sustainable employment.
Building on this success, and despite the economic challenges and movement restrictions in Palestine, the F4J DIB investors (PIF and SDO) and outcome funders have continued their collaboration through F4J Careerz (DIB II), which continues to invest in critical sectors to generate employment opportunities across Palestine.
Established in 2008, the Arabia CSR Awards are endorsed by the UN Global Compact, UNEP, and the League of Arab States, making them one of the region’s most credible platforms for recognizing excellence in corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
