Gaza Sky Geeks

A programme of international NGO Mercy Corps, Gaza Sky Geeks supports start-ups, gig economy workers, and aspiring software developers in Palestine. It began as an entrepreneurship bootcamp but is now a leading tech and innovation hub and operates across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Gaza Sky Geeks provides freelancers, founders, and coders with the technical training and support they need to earn an income online.

Related sustainable development goals

  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Communications
  • Development
    • Business and industry
      • Entrepreneurship
    • Economic development
      • Employment
        • Job creation and workforce developement
  • Education
    • Vocational education
  • Science
    • Technology

Focus populations

  • Academics
    • Students
  • Refugees and displaced people
  • Victims and oppressed people
  • Young adults

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • Palestine

Programmes

  • The Code Academy
    Providing intensive tech-education training, professional skills and job-readiness support for those looking to become professional coders and developers, irrespective of past experience and background.
  • The Skylancer Academy
    Upskilling people across a variety of fields to help them enter the digital workforce.
  • The Start-up programme
    An intensive 8-month venture building program that focuses on digitalizing the services and business models across big market industries in Palestine. A selective annual intake receive cash grants and one-to-one business supports.

Financials

Funding model

  • Grants to organisations
  • Pro bono services
    • Pro bono strategic management services
  • Programme related investment

Primary funders

  • Google for Start-ups
  • Mercy Corps

Operations

Key staff

  • director, Alan El-Khadi

Contact details