Istanbul, November 5, 2025: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) has expanded its Al-Quds Program, aimed at strengthening support for Palestinians — particularly women and youth — through new development and capacity-building projects, Anadolu Agency reported.
The announcement came during the 41st COMCEC session, held in Istanbul from November 1 to 4, where delegates discussed measures to enhance economic and institutional resilience in Palestine.
Launched in 2020, the Al-Quds Program seeks to improve living standards, institutional capacity, and human resource development in Palestinian communities. This year, eight new projects were added to the existing portfolio of 20 ongoing initiatives, bringing the total to 28 projects implemented under the program so far.
A new call for proposals, issued on October 15, aims to expand the number of Palestinians benefiting from the program in Jerusalem next year, focusing on economic empowerment and social inclusion.
The program supports a broad range of sectors, including tourism, cultural heritage, technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, e-learning, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to COMCEC, the initiative has already benefited over 1,000 Palestinians, mostly young people and women, through more than 80 capacity development activities.
The Al-Quds Program forms part of COMCEC’s broader strategy to strengthen economic solidarity among OIC member states and enhance sustainable livelihoods in Palestine.
