The Green Forward Conference 2025, organized by Flow Accelerator in partnership with SPARK, and held under the patronage of the Palestinian Ministry of Labor, brought together key national and international stakeholders to advance dialogue and collaboration toward a greener, more sustainable Palestine.
Under the theme “Strengthening Business Support Organisations Networks for a Green and Circular Economy in Palestine,” the conference gathered government officials, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs, and development partners to explore practical solutions and opportunities in the green and circular economy sectors. The conference kicked off with opening remarks by Dina Al Masaeid, Regional Programme Director, Middle East at SPARK, and Majd Khalifeh, our Managing Director at Flow Accelerator, followed by speeches from H.E. Ambassador Alexandre Stutzmann, European Union Representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and H.E. Dr. Enas Atari, Minister of Labor.
Throughout the day, we featured a rich and dynamic agenda designed to foster dialogue and collaboration around Palestine’s green and circular transition. The conference included four main panels, each highlighting key dimensions of the green economy. The first panel, “Unlocking the Green Economy: Regional Trends and Local Realities,” brought together H.E. Dr. Enas Atari, Minister of Labor; H.E. Eng. Bashar Al-Saifi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of National Economy; H.E. Eng. Ahmad Abu Thaher, Deputy Chairman of the Environment Quality Authority, and H.E. Ambassador Alexandre Stutzmann, EU Representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, moderated by Dina Al Masaeid, Regional Programme Director – Middle East at SPARK.
The second panel, “From Vision to Action: Building a Green Innovation Ecosystem,” featured Dr. Jad Isaac, Director General of ARIJ; Ala Alaeddin, Executive Board Member at the Palestinian Technopark; Irene Saadeh, Director of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department at Ramallah Municipality; and Majd Khalifeh, Managing Director of Flow Accelerator, moderated by Dr. Mona Demaidi, Vice President for Artificial Intelligence at the Arab American University and Chairperson of Intersect Innovation Hub. The discussion continued with Panel 3: “Partnering for a Greener Future – Private Sector Roles in Green Transitions,” featuring Basil Al-Qadi, CEO and Head of the Technology Committee at Palestine Prosperity Investment & Development (Izdehar); Ahmad Zeidan, Acting General Manager at Palestine for Development Foundation (PsFD); Mona Al-Qotub, Head of Sustainable Development and CSR Manager at APIC; Haitham Al-Najar, Chief Strategy Officer at the National Bank TNB; and Abdo Idris, Chairman of the Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, moderated by Faisal Kilani, Founder and CEO of Envision Solutions.
The final discussion, Panel 4: “Innovating for Impact; Palestinian Startups Leading the Green Shift,” showcased the innovative efforts of Palestinian entrepreneurs, including Maysara Abdullah, Founder and CEO of Snipe; Oqab Jaber, Founder and CEO of 3D Watan; Mahmoud Masaeed, Founder and CEO of Al-Masaeed Agricultural Equipment Company; and Shatha Musallem, Founder and CEO of Agritopia for Agricultural Technology, moderated by Leen Abu Baker, Director of Programs at Flow Accelerator.
Complementing the panel discussions were two Green Talks: “Closing the Loop: Pathways to a Circular Palestine” with Dr. Yazan Ossaily, International Director and Head of Research & Development at PERSES Group, and “Waste Management: Zero Waste, Big Impact” with Najla Abdellatif, Founder of Zero Waste Palestine. Additionally, the Roundtable on Green Financing and Investment gathered financial experts and development partners, Led by Raed Rajab, Finance Consultant, including featured Guests: Dr. Abdelmonem Wahdan: Head of The Palestinian Agricultural Credit Institution, Mustafa Tamaizeh: Economic Justice Programme Manager at OXFAM, Sameh Sawafta: Chief of PSPs Supervision at the Palestine Monetary Authority and Shahd Rimawi, Head of Microfinance Section at Palestine for Credit & Development – FATEN, to discuss mechanisms for advancing green investments in Palestine.
Entrepreneurs from across Palestine also presented their ideas during the pitching rounds, showcasing innovative and sustainable business models that reflect the creativity and commitment of the Palestinian startup ecosystem. The pitching sessions featured Thaer Tafesh, Founder of Colea; Summira Al-Qadi, Founder of Ommar El Ard; Jabra Ddurmak, Founder of Laheq Halak; and Safaa Ayad, Founder of Dawerha; all demonstrating how Palestinian-led innovation can drive real impact in advancing green and circular solutions.
The conference concluded with an 8-MoU Signing the Path to Collaboration with Business Support Organizations (BSOs), symbolizing a unified commitment to driving Palestine’s green transition. By bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, academia, and innovators, the Green Forward Conference 2025 reaffirmed Palestine’s readiness to embrace a green and circular economy, transforming ambition into concrete action for a sustainable future.
As the day came to an end, participants left inspired and energized, carrying forward a shared vision to build an inclusive and environmentally conscious Palestine, where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.
The Green Forward programme is funded by the European Union and implemented at the meso level by SPARK and Flow Accelerator in Palestine to foster a green and circular economy in the Southern Neighbourhood.
