Joint Israel

Workforce integration and productivitythe war decimated businesses and put tens of thousands including evacuees and injured soldiers - out of work. statistics show that if these newly unemployed people don't rejoin the workforce within two years, their chances of ever doing so are close to zero.in the devastating first months of the war jdc ensured that small israeli businesses remained solvent. in 2024, we helped israelis get back to work. the strategic assistance we provide through today means thousands of israelis will have an income tomorrow. - support for small businesses jdc offered 3,000 farms and small businesses the boost they needed to remain viable. (see sched. o) aid included small grants, consultations and networking assistance, retail space in malls, an online "pay now, receive later" program, marketing assistance, and pairing small farms with volunteers and business mentors. - employment programs: jdc helped over 13,00013,000 jobseekers including reservists, evacuees, and injured soldiers get back on track to employment through skills training and job placement assistance. the employment rehab reaches participants as soon after their trauma or injury as possible, integrating job counseling with trauma care to ensure these vulnerable israelis don't fall into chronic unemployment. - digital tools: 268,000+ israelis used jdc's digital employment platforms and discovered career guidance for decision making based on data.- career guidance and support: 13,107 participants received employment guidance and support.- enhanced vocational education: in 37 vocational schools, including all 24 arab vocational schools, students received assistance to start their path toward quality employment.

Public system efficiency and effectiveness jdc has been at the forefront of strengthening israel's public systems, working to ensure that all residents can access the public services they need to thrive. through partnerships with government ministries, local authorities, civil society organizations and the business sector, we tackle system-wide challenges and transform them into opportunities for meaningful impact.our work focuses on modernizing government operations, promoting digital transformation, advancing equity through improved resource utilization, and building stronger connections between national and local leadership. we run comprehensive professional (see sched. o) development programs, create innovative data-driven solutions, and build professional alumni networks spanning over 800 senior public servants committed to improving israel's public service infrastructure. among our most prominent programs in 2024:- northern initiative: jdc elka's northern initiative, in formal partnership with the goi and its new tenufa letzafon bureau, supported 24 municipalities with hands-on project management, planning expertise, and strategic guidance. jdc embedded professionals in each locality to co-develop war homecoming, infrastructure, and development plans that meet national standards while reflecting local realities. simultaneously, regional roundtables and multisector teams tackled broader growth areas such as housing, education, med-tech, tourism, and employment. the initiative ensured public funds are efficiently used, evacuees return safely, and the north emerges strongerready to thrive and attract new residents and investment.- mawared: mawared, launched by jdc in 2020, strengthened the ability of arab local authorities to access and utilize public funding allocated for their communities. at the center of this work were resource integrators, trained professionals which have been embedded within local authorities to lead strategic planning, intergovernmental coordination, and economic development efforts. the resource integrators receive continual training and support from jdc to further their effectiveness in their roles. to date, 60 mawared resource integrators have collectively driven a 75% increase in public fund utilization a