This week marks the official launch of the Green Scale Lab, a track of the Green Forward Program—a national initiative designed to strengthen the green economy ecosystem by empowering Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to lead sustainability transitions at the enterprise and policy levels. The Green Scale Lab was developed as a strategic component of Green Forward’s architecture, focusing specifically on BSOs that are already active in green sectors and positioned to scale their influence.
What is the Green Scale Lab?
The Green Scale Lab is the advanced track of the Green Forward Program, designed as a Green Business Training Academy for Business Support Organizations (BSOs) that are already leading or deeply engaged in green initiatives in Palestine.
It builds on the foundation laid in the early phases of Green Forward by offering an integrated structure for capacity building, tool development, and policy engagement. The Lab is tailored to help BSOs scale their impact, support MSMEs in adopting circular and sustainable business practices, and contribute to shaping the national green economy ecosystem.
Track Objectives:
- Strengthen the Capacity of Advanced BSOs: Equip BSOs with specialized knowledge and tools in circular economy, green finance, ESG, and sustainability integration.
- Enable High-Impact Support to MSMEs: Help BSOs deliver advisory services to green and transitioning MSMEs using tested, practical tools.
- Position BSOs as Drivers of Ecosystem Change: Empower BSOs to engage in public-private dialogue, influence policy, and lead multi-stakeholder collaboration. Track Components
The Green Scale Lab is made up of three core pillars:
- Specialized Training Modules – covering topics such as circular economy, green finance, ESG, green innovation, and policy advocacy
- Green Business Toolbox Development & Piloting – co-created with BSOs, the toolbox includes practical tools and templates to assess and support MSMEs in sustainability transformation
- Advocacy and Policy Engagement – equipping BSOs to draft policy briefs, engage stakeholders, and influence regulatory frameworks that support green entrepreneurship
Meet the Green Scale Lab Champions:
We are proud to collaborate with four leading Palestinian BSOs selected to champion this track. Each brings a proven track record, a deep community presence, and strong alignment with sustainable development goals:
– The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)
Founded in 1990, ARIJ is a pioneer in climate-resilient agriculture, environmental innovation, and marginalized community empowerment. With expertise in renewable energy, wastewater reuse, and smart farming, ARIJ also supports MSMEs in circular and green sectors while prioritizing inclusion.
More information at https://www.arij.org
– The Palestine Green Building Council (PalGBC)
PalGBC has been advancing green building practices since 2011, despite sectoral and regulatory challenges. The organization advocates for sustainable construction in response to Palestine’s constrained access to energy and resources—anchoring its work in long-term environmental necessity.
More information at https://palgbc.org
– The Agricultural Development Association (PARC)
PARC promotes circular agriculture and sustainable food systems across rural Palestine. From composting agricultural waste to eco-friendly processing, PARC offers technical and business support to MSMEs and cooperatives, especially in the agri-food sector. Its strong rural networks amplify its reach and inclusivity.
More information at https://pal-arc.org/en/
– The Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC)
With a deep commitment to cooperative development, ESDC delivers high-impact support to MSMEs and women- and youth-led enterprises. Through business planning, financing access, and value chain integration, ESDC enables local economic resilience and green entrepreneurship.
More information at https://esdc-pal.org
The kickoff of the Green Scale Lab marks the beginning of a peer learning and networking journey—one that positions participating BSOs as national and regional leaders in Palestine’s green economy transformation. Over the coming months, they will co-develop and pilot the Green Business Toolbox, recruit and mentor MSMEs in its application, and engage in ecosystem-wide dialogues to strengthen green regulatory frameworks.
The Green Forward programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by SPARK and Flow Accelerator in Palestine to foster a green and circular economy (GCE) in the Southern Neighbourhood region.
