Local fundraising example:
Private sector farmers’ markets creating new income opportunities for women producers

Summary

Many Palestinian women producers, farmers, and small local businesses participate in seasonal markets and bazaars to sell their products. While these markets are important for visibility, participation is not always financially worthwhile. Stall fees can be high, sales are uncertain, and some producers may leave with limited profit or even a loss.

Dalia Association therefore developed a different model: organising farmers’ and women producers’ markets inside private-sector institutions, including banks, telecommunications companies, and other large organisations.

The hosting institutions provide space for the market, promote it internally, and encourage their employees to purchase directly from local producers. This creates a new customer base for women and farmers, especially those living in rural areas or working from home.

To date, Dalia has organised five markets in banks, telecommunications companies, and other institutions, benefiting more than 36 women producers.

Each participating woman generated at least$  300 in sales during the market. In addition, some institutions provided direct financial contributions of around USD 200 per woman, while others purchased all or large quantities of the products on display.

The impact continued beyond the market day. Some companies later returned to participating women with new orders for customised products and corporate gifts, including handmade products produced for awareness campaigns such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As a result, the markets have developed from one-day sales events into a model for longer-term cooperation between the private sector and Palestinian women producers.

Tips and lessons learned

1. The market model itself can be redesigned. Instead of asking producers to bear high participation costs, bringing the market directly into private-sector institutions can improve sales opportunities and reduce risk.
2. Private-sector support does not have to be limited to financial donations. Companies can contribute through space, promotion, access to employees, product purchases, and follow-up orders.
3. A one-day market can create long-term business relationships. Follow-up orders and customised products can generate opportunities that continue well beyond the original event.
4. Access to new customers is a valuable local resource. Connecting rural and home-based women producers with employees of large companies can open markets that would otherwise be difficult for them to reach.

Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation

This is an example where the Change the Game Academy alliance member not only provides training courses, but also helps the participants to actually increase their income and reduce costs, through a highly innovative model, including the establishment of corporate social responsibility partnerships. And it works!

Details

Short description of the organisation the funds were raised for

Dalia Association is a community foundation that realizes our rights as Palestinians to control our resources for our own durable development for generations to come. Our mission is to mobilise and properly utilise resources necessary to empower a vibrant, independent, and accountable civil society, through community-controlled grant-making. Our community development approach focuses on the ecological, local economy, social and cultural dimensions. 

Results

Accounting details

Each participating woman generated at least 300$ in sales per market, with additional direct contributions from some companies