Academy for Educational Development

The Expanded and Sustained Access to Financial Services program (ESAF) supports USAID in its efforts to build a more inclusive financial sector that increases the sustainable access to financial services for Palestinian households and micro, small and medium enterprises. Through a variety of interventions, ESAF is addressing weaknesses in the financial system at all levels, from banking to the financial industry to regulatory environment. 

Interventions include the provision of financial literacy services, technical assistance to help banks “downscale” to reach the poor, support for the development of a land registry system and advice to the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA).  Combined, these activities will lead to the sustainable expansion of financial services to at least 35,000 households over the life of the program. 

In addition, the program includes a fixed-capital financing mechanism that will fund Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) equipment upgrades, assist with the creation of joint venture companies and technology transfer as well as facilitate other forms of capital inflow to profitable, growing businesses that can provide expanded economic activity and sustainable jobs. Investments will generally be directed toward key value chains, leading to the creation of at least 2,000 jobs through the increased integration of micro and SMEs.

Led by AED through the FIELD-Support LWA, the activities of the ESAF Program are implemented in partnership with experts from two leading organizations, Shore Bank International and the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.